USA v. Chudhary, Awais
Queens, NY

Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)

[EDNY] Awais Chudhary, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, is charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. In August 2019, Chudhary communicated to undercover law enforcement officers through text messaging that he planned to conduct a stabbing or bombing attack on behalf of ISIS. Chudhary also wanted to record his attack to inspire others to commit similar acts of violence. Chudhary identified the pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway to the Flushing Bay Promenade (the Promenade) and the World's Fair Marina (the Marina) as locations in Queens for the attack. Chudhary told an undercover agent that he intended to use a knife "because that's what he knows," but if the undercover agent could instruct him on how to build a bomb, he would consider using an explosive device at a "mini-bridge over a busy road with many cars." Chudhary pleaded guilty in August 2022 in federal court in Brooklyn to attempting to provide material support to ISIS.