A foiled 2011 New York City bomb plot targeting a synagogue and the Empire State Building led to terrorism convictions for both conspirators.
Key Facts
- Arrest date
- May 11, 2011
- Primary suspect
- Ahmed Ferhani
- Second suspect
- Mohamed Mamdouh
- Ferhani sentence
- 10 years in state prison
- Mamdouh sentence
- 5 years in state prison
- Stated motive
- Hatred of infidels and anti-semitism
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Ahmed Ferhani and Mohamed Mamdouh, two Muslim Arab-Americans, were motivated by what authorities described as hatred of infidels and anti-semitism, leading them to plan attacks on religious and civilian targets in New York City, including a synagogue, a possible church, and the Empire State Building.
Law enforcement disrupted the plot through a sting operation, arresting both Ferhani and Mamdouh on May 11, 2011, before any attack could be carried out. The operation was conducted by New York City authorities and resulted in charges of terrorism conspiracy and terrorism-related weapons possession.
Ferhani pleaded guilty in December 2012 and received a 10-year state prison sentence for terrorism-related charges. Mamdouh pleaded guilty in April 2013 and was sentenced to 5 years in state prison, concluding the legal proceedings against both conspirators.