A student at George Mason University was arrested this week over claims he was planning a “mass casualty attack” on the Consulate General of Israel in New York, according to court records.
Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, an Egyptian national who is only 18, allegedly operated several social media accounts that were promoting “radical and terrorist-leaning behavior.”
While the accounts were run anonymously, investigators managed to trace it back to Hassan using his provided email address, phone number and IP address.
According to prosecutors, Hassan regularly posted about “revering Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al Zawahiri” and operated “several pro-ISIS and al Qaeda accounts that promoted violence against Jews.”
After developing an obsession with terrorism, Hassan eventually began the process of planning a “mass casualty attack at the Consulate General of Israel using an explosive device and rifle.”
Hassan discussed his plan in great detail with an FBI informant he believed to be an admirer of his ideological mission.
The FBI has arrested an Egyptian national in Virginia, a George Mason University student. Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan is accused of planning a mass casualty attack targeting the Israeli Consulate General with explosives and a rifle.
This is the same university that was… pic.twitter.com/L0QiQpUkV6
— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) December 20, 2024
He has since been charged with the distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of the commission of a federal crime of violence.
Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are working on removal proceedings to deport him from the country, although it remains unclear when that it is expected to take place.
In a statement on Thursday, George Mason University said that it would be taking “enhanced precautions” to ensure the safety of its students.
“George Mason University continues to take enhanced precautions to maintain a safe and secure university community in light of the recent FBI arrest of one of its students,” the statement read.
“The arrest, which the university learned of on Tuesday, December 17, so far appears to have no connection to an earlier police action involving two George Mason students whose home was searched in November.”
“Although the student did not live on campus, he has been barred from entering university property. As criminal proceedings progress, the university will take appropriate action on student code of conduct violations.”
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally from the UK, he moved to the U.S. to cover Congress for Breitbart News and has since gone on to editorial roles at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media. He has also written for The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
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