WASHINGTON — A George Mason University student is facing charges after authorities say he plotted a mass-casualty attack targeting Jewish people at Israel’s general consulate in New York City.
According to court documents, the FBI first began investigating 18-year-old Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan in May after receiving an anonymous tip regarding his account on X, formerly known as Twitter. The person who submitted the tip to the FBI described the account to authorities as “radical and terrorist-leaning behavior.”
Three X Accounts
Hassan is a national of Egypt and currently lives in Falls Church, Virginia. Authorities say he is currently in removal proceedings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Court documents show examples of some of the posts allegedly made by Hassan on the X account, including posts revering Osama bin Laden saying, “13 years since my idolo died.” Another example accuses Hassan of saying a football player’s forehead was a “…sniper’s dream.”
On a second X account, authorities say Hassan shared an AI analysis of his profile that stated:
“Based on our AI agent’s analysis of your tweets, you are a young radical Islamist extremist who is obsessed with jihad and violence against perceived enemies. Your tweets suggest a deep-seated hatred and intolerance towards those of other faiths, particularly Jews.”
Court documents claim Hassan later posted, “Yep I am an extremist.”
Authorities later connected Hassan to a third X account, which was allegedly accessed via an IP Address associated with a university campus in Northern Virginia. That same day, the FBI witnessed Hassan on campus.
Counterterrorism expert Cesar Alvarez says these platforms are ideal breeding grounds to radicalize young people, as extremists use encrypted apps to spread their message.
“These extremist ideologies can be spread more rapidly, and they also reach a larger audience,” Alvarez explained. “The fact that we are heavily interconnected, particularly younger generations, makes these a very complex element that, particularly for law enforcement authorities, and the national security apparatus as a whole, to prevent, prosecute, and investigate.”
Bomb-making Videos & The Confidential Human Source
In September, a confidential FBI source reportedly began communicating with Hassan using the Telegram app after they both commented on a post featuring a convicted felon who authorities say has promoted militant Islamism on social media.
“Hassan, utilizing [Telegram] shared ISIS propaganda with [Confidential Source] and made comments about the growth and strength of ISIS in Afghanistan and West Africa,” court documents read.
Authorities say Hassan later detailed instructions on how to travel to join ISIS with the confidential source.
In November, Hassan allegedly began to recruit the confidential source to help follow through on a mass casualty attack.
According to the court documents, Hassan sent the confidential source a pro-ISIS video that called for the killing of Jewish people.
The two then discussed more local attacks, with Hassan allegedly saying the confidential source should “aim for government buildings” and suggested using a 3D-printed gun.
Court documents go on to describe how Hassan allegedly instructed the confidential source on how to make a “martyrdom video” and sharing videos with bomb-making instructions.
“Hassan suggested that, based on the size of the bomb, [Confidential Source] should get a backpack to put the bomb in,” the court documents read.
Later that same day, Hassan allegedly told the confidential source that he believed he was being watched due to his past.
Targeting the Consulate General of Israel
On Nov. 23, authorities say Hassan messaged the confidential source saying that he believed it would be easier to commit an armed attack and be “martyred” by police rather than complete a successful suicide bombing.
The confidential source reportedly told Hassan that they were in New York and getting a gun there would be difficult. Upon learning of the confidential source’s location, Hassan allegedly said they lived in a “goldmine of targets.”
The next day, court documents claim Hassan sent the confidential source the address for the Consulate General of Israel before also providing links to purchase a rifle.
“[Confidential Source] told Hassan that [Confidential Source] would learn more about the area of the planned attack,” the court documents read. “Hassan responded by asking [Confidential Source] to keep him updated. [Confidential Source] asked Hassan what to look for while conducting surveillance. Hassan instructed [Confidential Source] to identify escape routes and ways to sneak in.”
A day later, Hassan allegedly told the confidential source that he had spoken with ISIS media producers and directed them to create a video before attacking and send it to Hassan.
“…commenting that if [Confidential Source] is not martyred in the attack, [Confidential Source] will be famous.”
Court documents go on to describe how Hassan allegedly told the confidential source to “schedule a flight out of the country” to “somewhere where there are no extradition laws.”
Additionally, authorities say Hassan told the confidential source they had two options to conduct the attack, either murdering people at the consulate with an assault rifle or detonating an explosive vest while standing in a group of targets.
“Two options: law havoc on them with an assault rifle or detonate [an explosive] vest in the midst of them,” court documents quoted Hassan as saying in a message to the confidential source.
While Hassan allegedly emphasized gunfire was more effective, the bomb would be cheaper, according to court documents.
Later, authorities say Hassan would suggest live-streaming the attack so it could be distributed to “the ISIS media department.”
Statement from GMU
Hassan was eventually arrested on Tuesday. Although Hassan was a GMU student, he did not live on campus, and has since been barred from university property. The university released a letter to the community on Thursday, saying:
“George Mason University continues to take enhanced precautions to maintain a safe and secure university community in light of the recent FBI arrest of one of its students,” the letter reads. “… Although the student did not live on campus, he has been barred from entering university property. As criminal proceedings progress, the university will take appropriate action on student code of conduct violations.”
The university also stated that Hassan’s arrest has prompted the university to take additional safety measures, which include having GMU Police maintain close ties with local law enforcement, maintaining a university threat assessment team to evaluate its safety protocols, and an emergency operations group to respond to campus emergencies.