2011 Manhattan terrorism plot: Difference between revisions

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{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2011 Manhattan terrorism plot

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| motive = Religion ([[Islam]]), [[Antisemitism]], [[Islamism]]

}}

The '''2011 Manhattan terrorism plot''' was a conspiracy by two [[Islam in the United States|Muslim]] [[Arab-Americans]] to bomb various targets in the [[Manhattan]] borough of [[New York City]], [[NewUnited YorkStates. (state)|NewAccording York]]to authorities, UnitedAhmed States.Ferhani Theyand hadMohamed Mamdouh planned to attack an unspecified [[synagogue]], and one of them expressed interest in blowing uppossibly a church, and the [[Empire State Building]]. New York City lawLaw enforcement arrested the two suspects, 26-year-old Ahmed Ferhani and 20-year-old Mohamed Mamdouh, in a [[sting operation]] on May 11, 2011. TheirThe plot was motivated primarily by "hatred of infidels and [[Antisemitism|anti-semitism]]," according to the authorities.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news |title=Terror Suspect Details Emerge |author1=Sean Gardiner |author2=Pervaiz Shallwani |author3=Michael Howard Shaul |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703730804576321582267763512 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2012, Ferhani pleaded guilty to terrorism conspiracy and terrorism-related weapons possession charges and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison. Mamdouh pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 5 years in state prison in April 2013.

==Plot==

On May 12, 2011, New York City law enforcement officials announced that two suspects, Ahmed Ferhani and Mohamed Mamdouh, had been arrested for trying to purchase weapons, including three pistols and hand grenades, as part of a terror plot to attack an unspecified Manhattan synagogue. [[New York City Mayor]] [[Michael Bloomberg]] said both suspects wanted to attack a "major synagogue".<ref name="abc">{{cite news |title=Two Arrested in New York City Synagogue Attack Plot Sting |author1=Richard Esposito |author2=Mark Crudele |author3=Aaron Katersky |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/arrested-york-city-synagogue-attack-plot-sting/story?id=13586174 |newspaper=ABC News |date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> Mr. Ferhani is to also have expressed an interest in blowing up a church in Queens and the Empire State Building. Prior to their arrest, the two men had already obtained some guns.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news |title=Terror Suspect Details Emerge |author1=Sean Gardiner |author2=Pervaiz Shallwani |author3=Michael Howard Shaul |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703730804576321582267763512 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=May 14, 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> Ferhani allegedly was trying to sell drugs to fund the attacks.{{cncitation needed|date=July 2020}}

According to law enforcement officials, this was the thirteenth plot thwarted against the city since the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="abc"/>

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According to [[Manhattan District Attorney]] [[Cyrus Vance, Jr.|Cyrus Vance]], the authorities decided to act because Ferhani's "plans became bigger and more violent with every passing week". In several meetings with the undercover detective, Ferhani discussed the idea of attacking a synagogue, even suggesting disguising himself as a worshiping Jew so he could infiltrate the synagogue and leave a bomb inside.<ref name="ap"/>

On May 11, 2011, the NYPD set up an arms deal as a [[sting operation]] on Manhattan's West Side. In the deal, one of the undercover officers handed Ferhani a bag containing three handguns, three boxes of ammo and an inert (not operational) grenade. Once Ferhani placed the bag in the trunk of his car, the police swarmed and arrested him, as well as Mamdouh, who was nearby.<ref name="ap"/>

==Trial==

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At trial in March 2012, one of Ferhani's attorneys, [[Elizabeth Fink]], argued that he had been entrapped by law enforcement authorities.<ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/lawyers-for-man-accused-in-terrorism-plot-make-case-for-dismissal/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 Lawyers for Man Accused in Terrorism Plot Make Case for Dismissal] ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 13, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.thenation.com/article/173201/did-nypd-entrap-ahmed-ferhani# Did the NYPD Entrap Ahmed Ferhani?][[The Nation]], March 5, 2013</ref>

In a December 2012 [[plea bargain]], Ferhani pleaded guilty to terrorism conspiracy and terrorism-related weapons possession charges.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/nyregion/ahmed-ferhani-pleads-guilty-in-plot-to-blow-up-synagogue.html Queens Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Blow Up Manhattan Synagogue] ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 4, 2012</ref> Heand was later sentenced to ten years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peltz |first1=Jennifer |title=Inmate who plotted NY synagogue bombings in coma after suicide attempt |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/inmate-who-plotted-synagogue-bombings-comatose-after-suicide-attempt/ |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

Mamdouh pleaded guilty to charges, including conspiracy as terrorism. On 26 April 2013, he was sentenced to 5 years in state prison.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prison for NYC man charged with terror conspiracy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prison-for-nyc-man-charged-with-terror-conspiracy/ |access-date=19 December 2024 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=2013-04-26}}</ref>

==Suspects==

==Perpetrators==

The two suspects, 26-year-old Ahmed Ferhani and 20-year-old Mohamed Mamdouh, are both Arab-Muslim immigrants from North Africa that live in [[East Elmhurst, Queens]].<ref name="nypost">{{cite news |title=New video shows takedown of 2 Queens men who plotted to blow up Manhattan synogogues |author1=David Seifman |author2=Jamie Schram |author3=Dan Mangan |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/ll_kill_jews_qns_jihadist_busted_uNdRMYGSTYA2chnztlDlZM |newspaper=New York Post |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> Ferhani, considered the ringleader of the plot, is from Algeria, from where he and his parents were granted asylum some 10 years prior.<ref name="wsj"/> He was under review for possible deportation for failing to show up at immigration hearings where he would have been questioned about his arrest record. Mamdouh, the accomplice, is a [[Moroccan American|U.S. citizen from Morocco]].<ref name="nypost"/>

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==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://archive.today/20130415071638/http://www.manhattanda.org/whatsnew/press/2011-05-12.shtml New York Country District Attorney press release on the arrests] (May 12, 2011)

{{AmericanTerrorism}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Manhattan terrorism plot}}

[[Category:21st-century attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States]]

[[Category:2011 in New York City]]

[[Category:2010s in Manhattan]]

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[[Category:Islamic terrorism in New York (state)]]

[[Category:Islam and antisemitism]]

[[Category:Antisemitic attacks and incidents in theNew UnitedYork StatesCity]]

[[Category:Antisemitism in New York (state)]]