Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 27-year-old Canadian national from Ontario, pleaded guilty to several charges related to a violent assault on correctional officers at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood in 2020. The announcement was made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, Bahnasawy attacked two corrections officers on December 7, 2020, using a weapon fashioned from part of a steel desk found in his cell. One officer was stabbed in the head and face, resulting in the loss of his right eye. When another officer intervened, she was stabbed in the hand.
Authorities discovered a note in Bahnasawy’s sock stating, “This is a terrorist attack for the Islamic State.” Additionally, they found a pledge of allegiance to ISIS taped inside his locker door. Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to multiple counts including assault with intent to commit murder, possession of contraband inside a prison, and providing material support to ISIS.
At the time of this incident, Bahnasawy was already serving a sentence for plotting attacks in New York City on behalf of ISIS. In 2016, he collaborated with Talha Haroon and Russell Salic to plan bombings and shootings during Ramadan in crowded areas of New York City.
An undercover FBI agent infiltrated their plot by posing as an ISIS supporter willing to participate in these attacks. The FBI arrested Bahnasawy in May 2016 after he traveled from Canada to New York City as part of these preparations. He has remained in custody since then.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this case. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur and Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Jessica L. Joyce.
Bahnasawy faces up to 130 years imprisonment under federal law if convicted on all counts. Sentencing will be determined by a judge who will consider federal statutes and sentencing guidelines before imposing any penalty.
