A Queens man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for directing terrorist attacks in New York City.
Munther Omar Saleh, 22, was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Margo K. Brodie, to be followed by a term of 10 years’ supervised release.
Saleh had pleaded guilty on February 10, 2017 to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), and with assaulting and conspiring to assault federal officers.
The sentencing was announced by Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Edward C. O’Callaghan, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD).
“Munther Omar Saleh and his coconspirators conducted attacks on members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to keep our city safe,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “Saleh’s sentence will not only incapacitate the defendant for a significant period of time, but should also serve as a deterrent to those who contemplate waging violent jihad in New York City at the direction of a foreign terrorist organization.
As alleged in the indictment and in other court filings, Saleh, together with other coconspirators, assisted New Jersey resident Nader Saadeh’s planned travel to ISIS-controlled territory. Saleh personally accompanied Saadeh to John F. Kennedy International Airport where Saadeh departed on a flight for Jordan in the first leg of a planned trip to ISIS-controlled territory. Saadeh was subsequently apprehended and pleaded guilty in federal court in New Jersey to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.
Working with ISIS attack facilitators located overseas, Saleh coordinated a plot to conduct a terrorist attack in New York City. Saleh sought and received instructions from ISIS attack facilitator Junaid Hussain to construct a pressure-cooker bomb and discussed with him potential targets for a terrorist attack in New York City, such as the Statue of Liberty. Saleh also sought and received authorization from Junaid Hussain permitting codefendant Fareed Mumuni to conduct a suicide “martyrdom” attack by using a pressure-cooker bomb against law enforcement officers who were following the coconspirators and Saleh.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shreve J. Arias and Ilan W. DeClue of the Eastern District of New York’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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