If you are laboring under the belief that Islamic terrorism is a fear of the past, think again. The feds have gotten a lot better about disrupting American plots against citizens birthed by sick Islamists, but make no mistake about it: There are still ISIS-inspired psychos just waiting for the opportunity to cause havoc and mayhem with any weapons they can find. No more proof is needed than the case of Awais Chudhary, a 19-year-old Pakistani-born man who was arrested by the FBI in Queens this week and charged with plotting a terrorist attack in allegiance to the Islamic State.
According to the Daily Mail, Chudhary was picked up by the feds as he traveled to an Amazon locker to retrieve a knife he was to use to “carry out a lone wolf knife and bomb attack on the World’s Fair Marina for ISIS.”
Chudhary is being detained without the possibility of bail and charged with providing material support for the Islamic State.
“He allegedly communicated with undercover agents via text about his plan for a knife or bomb attack on various locations in New York City, possibly including pedestrian bridges and the World’s Fair Marina in Queens, having scouted those locations earlier this month,” reported CBS News.
In a statement, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neil praised law enforcement for getting out ahead of what could have been a tragedy.
“He had carefully planned, conducted reconnaissance, picked a target, and was in the process of obtaining the weapon. All he has left to do was to strike,” O’Neill said. “The FBI agents and NYPD detectives of the JTTF [Joint Terrorism Task Force] should be commended for the disruption of this plot. Their work almost certainly saved lives.”
If convicted, said the Department of Justice, Chudhary could face up to 20 years in prison.
Unfortunately, even with their “Caliphate” destroyed, ISIS and their offshoots are going to be a threat for a very long time to go. And even if the Islamic State, specifically, is eradicated down to the last lieutenant, the systemic poison of jihadist ideology will survive. As long as Muslims take these radical ideology seriously – and they can do nothing but, considering what is ACTUALLY written in the Quran – we face an existential threat emanating from one of the world’s three major religions. We can’t afford to get complacent, no matter how much time has passed since the last devastating attack.
It’s only a matter of time before one of these evil cells (or lone wolves) makes good on their quest for paradise.
