Kenyan man convicted for plotting a 9/11-style attack on the US

A Kenyan man has been convicted for plotting a 9/11-style attack on a U.S. building on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab.

A federal jury in Manhattan found Cholo Abdi Abdullah guilty on all six counts he faced for conspiring to hijack an aircraft and slam it into a building, according to court records.

He’s due to be sentenced next March and faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.

Abdullah represented himself during the trial, which opened last week.

He declined to give an opening statement and did not actively participate in questioning witnesses.

In court papers filed ahead of the trial, prosecutors said Abdullah intended to “merely sit passively during the trial, not oppose the prosecution and whatever the outcome, he would accept the outcome because he does not believe that this is a legitimate system.”

Lawyers appointed to assist Abdullah in his self-defence didn’t respond to an email seeking comment Monday.

Federal prosecutors, who rested their case Thursday, said Abdullah plotted the attack for four years, undergoing extensive training in explosives and how to operate in secret and avoid detection.

He then moved to the Philippines in 2017 where he began training as a commercial pilot.

Abdullah was almost finished with his two-year pilot training when he was arrested in 2019 on local charges.

He was transferred the following year to U.S. law enforcement authorities, who charged him with terrorism-related crimes.

Prosecutors said Abdullah also researched how to breach a cockpit door and information “about the tallest building in a major U.S. city” before he was caught.

The State Department in 2008 designated al-Shabab, which means “the youth” in Arabic, as a foreign terrorist organization.

The militant group is an al-Qaida affiliate that has fought to establish an Islamic state in Somalia based on Shariah law.

9/11 Attack

The September 11 attacks were a pivotal moment in modern history, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.

On that fateful day, four commercial planes were hijacked by terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Another plane, American Airlines Flight 77, struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to overcome the hijackers.

The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks saw a significant shift in global politics, international relations, and national security measures.

The US launched the War on Terror, invading Afghanistan and Iraq, and enacted sweeping legislation such as the USA PATRIOT Act.

The Department of Homeland Security was established to coordinate national efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist threats.

Memorials were built in New York City, Arlington, and Shanksville to honor the nearly 3,000 victims and their families.

Each year, September 11 is observed as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, reflecting on the tragedy and its ongoing impact on the world.

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