Minh Quang Pham, a Massachusetts resident also known as "Amim," was sentenced to 44 years in prison for his involvement with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Pham's sentencing includes a lifetime of supervised release for his role in an attempted suicide bombing linked to AQAP, a recognized foreign terrorist organization.
Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, stated, “The defendant was sentenced for an attempt to commit an act of terrorism and plotting a suicide bombing on behalf of AQAP.” He emphasized the Justice Department's commitment to preventing acts of terrorism. Assistant Director David J. Scott from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division noted that Pham had coordinated with Anwar al-Aulaqi on a plot targeting Heathrow International Airport and had attempted to recruit others for terrorist activities.
U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon remarked on Pham's actions as an affront to national safety and highlighted the significance of the sentencing as a measure against terrorism. Court documents reveal that Pham traveled from London to Yemen in December 2010, where he joined AQAP and pledged loyalty in front of an AQAP commander.
Pham received training from Anwar al-Aulaqi during his time in Yemen and was instructed by al-Aulaqi to return to the U.K. to find recruits willing to join AQAP. Al-Aulaqi provided Pham with resources including money and communication tools for this purpose.
In June 2011, before leaving Yemen, Pham proposed conducting a suicide attack at Heathrow Airport using explosives made from household chemicals—a plan he documented through videos depicting his preparations. He also recorded a video encouraging others in the West to engage in jihad.
Pham worked on AQAP’s propaganda magazine Inspire alongside Samir Khan during his stay in Yemen. Before leaving Yemen, he received detailed instructions from al-Aulaqi on executing an attack at Heathrow during Christmas or New Year seasons using shrapnel-laden explosives.
Upon returning to the U.K., authorities detained him at Heathrow Airport and found ammunition consistent with Kalashnikov rifles—weaponry he trained with while in Yemen. Although initially released after cautioning him for possession of ammunition, Pham was later arrested under U.K. immigration law in December 2011.
After being indicted by a grand jury on May 24, 2012, U.S. authorities sought Pham’s extradition from the U.K., which occurred on February 26, 2015. Following various legal proceedings including appeals and motions resulting in vacated convictions, new charges were filed leading up to his guilty plea on May 11, 2023.
The investigation involved efforts by FBI Washington and New York Field Offices with assistance from international partners including Metropolitan Police Service/SO15 Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard among others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob H. Gutwillig and Trial Attorney John Cella.
