A Kenyan national, Cholo Abdi Abdullah, was convicted on Monday by a Manhattan federal jury for plotting a 9/11-style terror attack on a U.S. building, intending to carry out the attack on behalf of the al-Shabab militant group. Abdullah was found guilty on six counts, including conspiring to hijack an aircraft to use as a weapon, according to court records. He faces a minimum of 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for next March.
Abdullah chose to represent himself during the trial, which began last week. He refrained from giving an opening statement and did not question witnesses, underscoring his lack of engagement in his own defense. In pre-trial court documents, prosecutors revealed Abdullah’s apparent intent to remain passive throughout the trial, reportedly expressing distrust in the U.S. judicial system.
Prosecutors laid out details of Abdullah’s alleged four-year plot to carry out a devastating attack on U.S. soil. Abdullah, who had trained extensively in explosives and covert operations, relocated to the Philippines in 2017, where he began pilot training in preparation for the attack. He was nearing the completion of his two-year training program when he was detained in 2019 on local charges. Following his arrest, he was transferred to U.S. authorities the following year to face terrorism-related charges.
During his training, Abdullah reportedly researched various techniques, including how to breach cockpit doors, and gathered information on high-rise buildings in major U.S. cities. Federal prosecutors argued that these actions were part of his preparation for a large-scale attack similar to the 9/11 events.
Al-Shabab, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department since 2008, has pledged allegiance to al-Qaida and seeks to establish an Islamic state in Somalia governed by Shariah law. Abdullah’s conviction marks a significant step in countering the group’s reach beyond East Africa.
