Queens Man Gets 18 Years for ISIS Bomb Plot

Munther Omar Saleh, a Queens man tied to an ISIS-directed plot to detonate a pressure-cooker bomb in New York City, was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie handed down the sentence at the Brooklyn federal courthouse, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Saleh, who pleaded guilty on February 10, 2017, admitted to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, as well as assaulting and conspiring to assault federal officers.

The case, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, paints a chilling picture of homegrown extremism. Saleh coordinated with ISIS attack facilitators overseas, including the now-deceased Junaid Hussain, who instructed him on bomb construction and target selection. Among potential targets discussed: the Statue of Liberty. The plot wasn’t just theoretical—Saleh and his coconspirators were actively surveilled by law enforcement after escalating confrontations.

Richard P. Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, didn’t mince words. “Munther Omar Saleh and his coconspirators conducted attacks on members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to keep our city safe,” he said. “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.”

The FBI and NYPD confirmed Saleh’s role in aiding Nader Saadeh, a New Jersey resident, in attempting to travel to ISIS-controlled territory. Saleh personally escorted Saadeh to JFK International Airport before Saadeh’s eventual arrest and guilty plea. Court records show Saleh informed ISIS operatives that his coconspirators had confronted surveillance teams—proof of operational intent.

Even more alarming, Saleh sought and received authorization from Hussain for codefendant Fareed Mumuni to carry out a suicide “martyrdom” attack using a pressure-cooker bomb against federal agents. The bomb-making effort was underway. The Joint Terrorism Task Force intercepted the plot before it could culminate in mass casualties, but the blueprint was clear: attack civilians, attack cops, die for ISIS.

“Today’s sentencing promises he’ll remain behind bars for a significant period of time, upholding our faith in a justice system that has little compassion for those who wish to harm our way of life,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. For now, Saleh is locked down. But his case is a stark reminder: the war on terror still runs through Queens, Brooklyn, and the streets of New York City.

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