Admin I Wednesday, Sept 24, 2025
NEW YORK – In a city that has become a symbol of resilience, a chilling reminder of the persistent threat of terrorism was brought to light today as Awais Chudhary, a 25-year-old Queens man, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for his attempt to provide material support to ISIS.
This case serves as a stark testament to the ongoing vigilance required to protect New York’s citizens from both foreign and domestic threats.
The Unseen Threat
The story of Awais Chudhary is a journey from virtual radicalization to planned violence. In 2019, Chudhary, influenced by violent propaganda, pledged his allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
His radicalization wasn’t confined to online forums. It seeped into his reality, leading him to meticulously plan a knife or bomb attack on behalf of the terror group.
His intended targets were places many New Yorkers pass daily without a second thought: the pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway and the
Flushing Bay Promenade. These seemingly innocuous locations were, in Chudhary’s mind, a stage for “maximum slaughter.”
He went to great lengths to scout these areas, making video recordings to aid in his deadly plot. He even sought advice from what he believed were ISIS supporters online, inquiring about the best type of knife to use and how to avoid leaving fingerprints or DNA.
In a grim detail, he sent a screenshot of an ISIS propaganda magazine that graphically depicted where to stab victims.
A Plan Unravels
Chudhary’s digital footprint was a trail of his sinister intentions.
He ordered a tactical knife, a mask, gloves, and a cellphone chest and head-strap online. His plan was to record the attack, hoping it would inspire other ISIS supporters. However, his carefully laid plans were thwarted.
Federal authorities, part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, were watching.
In a dramatic turn of events, Chudhary was arrested as he attempted to retrieve the items from a retailer’s locker in Queens.
His plot, which had the potential to cause unimaginable harm, was stopped before it could be executed. “Thanks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Chudhary was stopped before anyone was harmed,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern
District of New York.
Beyond the planned attack, court filings reveal Chudhary’s deeper involvement with ISIS’s propaganda machine.
He collaborated with another convicted ISIS member to translate some of the group’s propaganda materials into English, helping to spread their hateful ideology to a wider, English-speaking audience.
A Call for Continued Vigilance
The sentencing of Awais Chudhary to 108 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, sends a clear message. “Awais Chudhary pledged allegiance to a brutal terrorist organization and set out to kill American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our prosecutors have ensured that he will spend years behind bars for his crimes, and the Department of Justice will continue to protect the American people from all threats foreign and domestic.”
This case highlights the critical role of law enforcement in a post-9/11 world, where threats are often homegrown and incubated online.
As FBI Director Kash Patel stated, the “men and women of the FBI never lose sight of the threat posed by supporters of ISIS and other terrorist organizations.”
The story of Awais Chudhary is a chilling reminder that the defense of our city and our nation is a constant, quiet battle waged every day by dedicated professionals.
