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{{Short description|Canadian mentally ill entrapment}}
 
{{BLP sources|date=May 2021}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
 
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|0502|21|mf=yes}}
| citizenship = [[Canadians|Canadian]]
| conviction = *Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (18 U.S. Code § 2332a)
*Conspiracy to commit terrorism transcending national boundaries (18 U.S. Code § 2332b)
*Conspiracy to bomb a place of public use and public transportation system (18 U.S. Code § 2332f)
*Conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization (18 U.S.C. § 2339B)
| imprisoned = [[ADX Florence]]
| website = https://bringabdulhome.ca/
| targets = [[New York City Subway]], [[Times Square]], and concert venues
| criminal_penalty = 40 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release.
}}
 
'''Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] citizen who was convicted in 2016 of terrorism-related offenses. El Bahnasawy plotted via online chat to carry out an attack on [[Times Square]] and the [[New York City Subway|subway system]] in [[New York City]].<ref name="globalnews">{{cite news|last1=Bell|first1=Stewart|last2=Hill|first2=Brian|date=June 20, 2018|title=He plotted to bomb Times Square for ISIS.Records show he's mentally ill. Is he a terrorist?|work=[[Global News]]|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4274935/canadian-isis-plot-new-york/}}</ref> In December 2018, El Bahnasawy was sentenced to 40 years in a US federal prison.<ref name="cbc_1.605766">{{citeHis news|title=Mentallyconviction illand Canadianimprisonment convictedhave ingenerated terrorsome probecontroversy landsdue in U.S. supermaximum security prison|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/family-wants-canadian-out-of-us-supermax-prison-1.6057663}}</ref> In 2021,to El Bahnasawy's was accusedhistory of stabbingmental andhealth attemptingissues toand aage killat atime federalof correctionalthe officerplot. atthere [[Unitedare Statesmany Penitentiary,calls Allenwood]].from His convictionprofessionals and imprisonmenthuman haveright generatedactivists somefor controversyhis duetransfer back to ElCanada Bahnasawy'swhere historyhe ofcan mental health issues and age atget the timepsychiatric ofhelp thehe plotneeds. <ref name="cbc_1.605766">{{cite news|title=Mentally ill Canadian convicted in terror probe lands in U.S. super maximumsupermaximum security prison|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/family-wants-canadian-out-of-us-supermax-prison-1.6057663}}</ref>
 
== Early life ==
El Bahnasawy was born in [[Kuwait]] and raised in [[Mississauga, Ontario]]. Throughout El Bahnsawy's adolescent life, he struggled with issues related to his mental illness and subsequent substance abuse.<ref name="globalnews"/>
El Bahnasawy had a significant history of mental health difficulties prior to his arrest.<ref name="thestar_2018-03-21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/21/family-of-mississauga-teen-in-nyc-terror-plot-says-fbi-operated-overzealous-sting-operation.html|title=Family of Mississauga teen in NYC terror plot says FBI operated overzealous sting operation|date=March 21, 2018|website=thestar.com}}</ref> From age 14 El Bahnasawy was placed as an inpatient in three different mental health hospitals, including one in [[Egypt]], the Kuwaiti Center of Psychiatric Health and the [[Centre for Addiction and Mental Health|Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)]] in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4274935/canadian-isis-plot-new-york/|title=He plotted to bomb Times Square for ISIS. Records show he’s mentally ill. Is he a terrorist? &#124; Globalnews.ca|website=globalnews.ca}}</ref> El Bahnasawy was a 17-year-old minor with no history of violence or criminal record prior to making contact with an undercover FBI informant to plot terror attacks in New York City.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4658275/canadian-isis-plot-new-york-2/|title=Undercover informant encouraged ‘vulnerable’ Canadian ISIS plotter, defence argues &#124; Globalnews.ca|website=Global News}}</ref>
 
== Terror plot and arrest ==
Despite having no criminal and violent history, El Bahnasawy began communicating on message boards in support of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham]] (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. He conspired with Talha Haroon, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen residing in [[Pakistan]], and Russell Salic, a 38-year-old [[Philippines]] citizen and resident, to conductplan bombingsa andterrorist shootingsattack in heavily populated areas of [[New York City]] duringin the2016. IslamicAll holyactivates monthwere ofonline [[Ramadan|Ramadhan]]with inthe 2016,encouragement alland inguidance from the nameundercover ofas ISIS.his Ellawyer Bahnasawystated purchasedin [[Improvisedcourt explosivefiling device|bomb-makingthat materials]]El forbahnasawy thewas attacka andminor rentedwith outmental ahealth cabinissues thatwho was drivinglured distanceonline fromby NewFBI Yorkundercover Cityagents tointo buildconspiring the bombs forin the attack.planning Additionally,of Ela Bahnasawyterrorist purchasedattack [[hydrogenin peroxide]]New toYork bethat usedhe inwould explosivenot devices.have Eldone Bahnasawyotherwise expressedtaking toadvantage theof undercoverhis informantmental thatillness. "Americans neededBoth the attack"FBI and that he aspired to "create the nextRCMP 9/11".<ref>{{Citeknew webabout |title=UnitedAbdulrahman's Statesmental v. El Bahnasawyillness, No.the 18-3805latter {{!}}unlawfully Casetextproviding Searchthe +former Citatorwith |url=https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-el-bahnasawyAbdulrahman's |access-date=2023-10-20medical |website=casetext.com}}</ref>reports; Allhowever, activatesit werewas onlinethis withfact thethat encouragementmade andhim guidancean fromeasy thetarget undercoverfor as his lawyer stated in court filingentrapment. Haroon allegedly made plans to travel from Pakistan to New York City to join El Bahnasawy in carrying out the attacks. As El Bahnasawy and Haroon prepared to execute the attacks, Salic allegedly wired money from the Philippines to the United States to help fund the terrorist operation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 19, 2018|title=Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Plotting to Carry out Terrorist Attacks in New York City for ISIS in Summer of 2016|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/abdulrahman-el-bahnasawy-sentenced-40-years-prison-plotting-carry-out-terrorist-attacks-new|website=United States Department of Justice}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
 
The group was infiltrated by an undercover informant for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), who acted as if they were willing to participate in the attack. On a family trip in May 2016, El Bahnasawy was arrested by federal agents in [[New Jersey]]; he was charged with conspiracy to commit terror acts transcending national borders and providing material support to terror groups. Haroon and Salic were arrested in [[Pakistan]] and the [[Philippines]], respectively. In 2020, a [[Supreme Court of Pakistan|Pakistani Supreme Court]] decided to halt the United States extradition request of Haroon. Salic, a Filipino doctor, is also yet to be extradited to the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aamir|first=Latif|date=September 21, 2020|title=Pakistan court halts terror suspect's extradition to US|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistan-court-halts-terror-suspect-s-extradition-to-us/1980478|website=Anadolu Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mogato|first=Manuel|date=October 11, 2017|title=Philippines Doctor Linked to New York Attack Plot a 'Regular, Generous Guy'|url=https://jakartaglobe.id/news/philippines-doctor-linked-new-york-attack-plot-regular-generous-guy/|website=JakartaGlobe}}</ref> El Bahnasawy's lawyer alleges he was entrapped by the FBI with the help of RCMP, who were aware of his mental illness but did not contact his family.<ref>{{Cite web| first=Brian |last=Hill |publisher=Global News
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A number of recommendations were made to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) on where to house El Bahnasawy. The court recommended that El Bahnasawy be designated to [[Federal Correctional Complex, Butner|FCI Butner Medium]] (care level 3) to facilitate greater proximity to mental health services. To the extent BOP finds that El Bahnasawy should be housed at a Mental Health Care Level 2 facility, the court recommended [[Federal Correctional Institution, McKean|FCI McKean]] or [[Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill|FCI Schuylkill]], both in Pennsylvania, to facilitate regular visitation with his parents and sister.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=The Court makes the following recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons|url=https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Abdulrahman%20El%20Bahnasawy%20Judgment.pdf|newspaper=Extremism Gwu}}</ref> Despite the court recommendations, El Bahnasawy was placed in the [[Solitary confinement|Special Housing Unit (SHU)]] of [[United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy|USP Big Sandy]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Columnist |first=Amira Elghawaby Contributing |date=2020-04-21 |title=Amira Elghawaby: COVID-19 is latest twist in Canadian family’s nightmare |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/covid-19-is-latest-twist-in-canadian-family-s-nightmare/article_05533aa0-3515-5847-ba6f-0a2455cb1572.html |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref>
 
== The RCMP’s role is the subject of a complaint filed ==
A 2014 report by [[Human Rights Watch]] documented a pattern at the FBI of “discriminatory investigations, often targeting particularly vulnerable individuals (including people with intellectual and mental disabilities and the indigent), in which the government — often acting through informants — is actively involved in developing the plot, persuading and sometimes pressuring the target to participate, and providing the resources to carry it out.".<ref>{{cite news|title=Human Rights Watch and Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute said in a report|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/21/us-terrorism-prosecutions-often-illusion}}</ref>▼
 
The RCMP’s role is now the subject of a complaint filed with the recently formed National Security and Intelligence Review Agency as El Bahnasawy was “entrapped” by the FBI with the help of the RCMP, which was aware of his history of mental illness and addiction. The complaint alleges that Both agencies knew of his mental health problem and so entrapped him online, taking advantage of his unstable mental health, while he was manic and on the waiting list for mental health treatment. Experts said there was no reason to decline the case, which touches on sensitive topics such as international cooperation and terrorism investigations in which mental illness is a factor<ref>{{cite news|title=National security review agency looking at complaint over arrest of Canadian ISIS recruit|url= https://globalnews.ca/news/6358448/isis-plot-complaint-national-security-review-agency/}}</ref>
== Prison attack ==▼
On December 7, 2020, at around 6:15 am, while incarcerated at [[United States Penitentiary, Allenwood]], El Bahnasawy snuck behind corrections officer Dale Franquet Jr and stabbed him twice in the back and eye with a 14-inch shank. El Bahnasawy then attacked a responding correctional officer but was subdued with the usage of [[Pepper spray|OC spray]]. Franquet lost his eye in the attack. El Bahnasawy was quickly transferred to [[United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hunter|first=Brad|date=December 17, 2020|title=Convicted Canadian terrorist behind bloody prison knife attack: Report|url=https://torontosun.com/news/world/convicted-canadian-terrorist-behind-bloody-prison-knife-attack-report|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref> In April 2021, El Bahnasawy was transferred to the [[ADX Florence|United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inmate Locator |url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.bop.gov}}</ref>▼
 
▲AOn the other hand, a 2014 report by [[Human Rights Watch]] documented a pattern at the FBI of “discriminatory investigations, often targeting particularly vulnerable individuals (including people with intellectual and mental disabilities and the indigent), in which the government — often acting through informants — is actively involved in developing the plot, persuading and sometimes pressuring the target to participate, and providing the resources to carry it out.".<ref>{{cite news|title=Human Rights Watch and Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute said in a report|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/21/us-terrorism-prosecutions-often-illusion}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=RCMP entrapment of B.C. couple in legislature bomb plot was 'travesty of justice,' court rules|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-nuttall-amanda-korody-2018-1.4952431}}</ref>
On October 20, 2022, El Bahnasawy pled no contest to charges of two counts of assault on a federal officer. In addition he was also charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a prohibited object, and providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. According to his attorney, Andrew J. Frisch, EL Bahnasawy suffers from mental illness and Professionals who evaluated Bahnasawy in the New York City prosecution concluded his mental issues included bipolar and other disorders along with auditory hallucinations.<ref>{{Cite web |first=John |last=Beauge|date=2022-10-18 |title=Inmate seeks to plead no contest to two charges in Allenwood guard stabbing|url=https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2022/10/inmate-seeks-to-plead-no-contest-to-two-charges-in-allenwood-guard-stabbing.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inmate with ISIS ties who stabbed officer in eye seeks pleas of no contest |url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/2022/10/inmate-with-isis-ties-who-stabbed-officer-in-eye-seeks-pleas-of-no-contest/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=sungazette.com |language=en-US}}</ref>▼
 
== Controversy ==
The case of the Mississauga teen accused in an NYC terror plot has sparked significant controversy, with the family alleging that the FBI's sting operation was overly aggressive and employed an "overzealous" approach. <ref name="thestar_2018-03-21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/21/family-of-mississauga-teen-in-nyc-terror-plot-says-fbi-operated-overzealous-sting-operation.html|title=Family of Mississauga teen in NYC terror plot says FBI operated overzealous sting operation|date=March 21, 2018|website=thestar.com}}</ref> El Bahnasawy’s older sister has voiced strong criticism of the FBI's actions and lack of accountability, “Obviously, the Islamic State are horrible people and I think everybody sees them as the enemy,” said El Bahnasawy’s sister, Basma, in an interview with Star. “But … it was the FBI who were the ones who manipulated my brother to actually try and go there and do whatever crime they wanted him to do.” <ref name="thestar_2018-03-21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/21/family-of-mississauga-teen-in-nyc-terror-plot-says-fbi-operated-overzealous-sting-operation.html|title=Family of Mississauga teen in NYC terror plot says FBI operated overzealous sting operation|date=March 21, 2018|website=thestar.com}}</ref>
 
▲== Prison attack ==
U.S. prosecutors say otherwise: “El Bahnasawy worked to support ISIS for an extended period, from late 2015 until his arrest in May 2016,” wrote prosecutor Geoffrey Berman in his 172-page submission to a New York federal court, referring to the group also known as Daesh, ISIL and the “Islamic State.” <ref name="thestar_2018-03-21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/21/family-of-mississauga-teen-in-nyc-terror-plot-says-fbi-operated-overzealous-sting-operation.html|title=Family of Mississauga teen in NYC terror plot says FBI operated overzealous sting operation|date=March 21, 2018|website=thestar.com}}</ref>
After El Bahnasawy's conviction in late 2018, he spent 2019 and much of 2020 in the Special Housing Units of [[Federal Correctional Institution, Gilmer]] and [[United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy]]. In late 2020, El Bahnasawy was transferred from Big Sandy to [[United States Penitentiary, Allenwood]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
Professionals who evaluated El Bahnasawy in the New York City prosecution concluded his mental issues included bipolar and other disorders along with auditory hallucinations, His attorney Andrew J. Frisch pointed out. The latter are in the form of an imagined person who threatens him if he fails to follow directions, he said. Despite the mental illness history, A physician assistant's notes of a Nov. 25, 2020, psychiatric evaluation at Allenwood stated El Bahnasawy was not medicated, as mentioned in the court documents.
 
▲On December 7, 2020, at around 6:15 am, while incarcerated at [[United States Penitentiary, Allenwood]], El Bahnasawy snuck behind corrections officer Dale Franquet Jr and stabbed him twice in the back and eye with a 14-inch shank. El Bahnasawy then attacked a responding correctional officer but was subdued with the usage of [[Pepper spray|OC spray]]. Franquet lost his eye in the attack. El Bahnasawy was quickly transferred to [[United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hunter|first=Brad|date=December 17, 2020|title=Convicted Canadian terrorist behind bloody prison knife attack: Report|url=https://torontosun.com/news/world/convicted-canadian-terrorist-behind-bloody-prison-knife-attack-report|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref> In April 2021, El Bahnasawy was transferred to the [[ADX Florence|United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inmate Locator |url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=www.bop.gov}}</ref>
{{blockquote|text=
 
{{lang|fr|“He planned and plotted for more than a month to carry out the NYC attack. As his actions and communications demonstrated in chilling and explicit terms, El Bahnasawy was a proud and devoted supporter of a global terrorist organization dedicated to murdering non-believers in the West.”}} <ref name="thestar_2018-03-21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/21/family-of-mississauga-teen-in-nyc-terror-plot-says-fbi-operated-overzealous-sting-operation.html|title=Family of Mississauga teen in NYC terror plot says FBI operated overzealous sting operation|date=March 21, 2018|website=thestar.com}}</ref>
▲On October 20, 2022, El Bahnasawy pled no contest to charges of two counts of assault on a federal officer. In addition he was also charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a prohibited object, and providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. According to his attorney, Andrew J. Frisch, EL Bahnasawy suffers from mental illness and Professionals who evaluated Bahnasawy inconcluded thethat Newhe Yorkhas Citylong prosecutionsuffered concluded hisfrom mental health issues, includedand bipolarassert andthat, otherat disordersthe alongtime withof the alleged assaults, he was in the midst of a auditorypsychotic hallucinationsepisode.<ref>{{Cite web |first=John |last=Beauge|date=2022-10-18 |title=Inmate seeks to plead no contest to two charges in Allenwood guard stabbing|url=https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2022/10/inmate-seeks-to-plead-no-contest-to-two-charges-in-allenwood-guard-stabbing.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inmate with ISIS ties who stabbed officer in eye seeks pleas of no contest |url=https://www.sungazette.com/news/2022/10/inmate-with-isis-ties-who-stabbed-officer-in-eye-seeks-pleas-of-no-contest/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=sungazette.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|author=Geoffrey Berman
}}
 
== References ==
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[[Category:Islamic terrorism in the United States]]
[[Category:People convicted on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in 2016]]
[[Category:Failed terrorist attempts in the United States]]
[[Category:Inmates of ADX Florence]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Canadian people imprisoned abroad]]
[[Category:1998 births]]
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