A 27-year-old man from Mississauga, Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, has admitted to attacking two correctional officers at a U.S. prison in 2020 while serving time for planning a terrorist attack in New York City. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, El Bahnasawy used a makeshift weapon crafted from a steel desk part in his cell at the United States Penitentiary Allenwood in Pennsylvania to stab the officers on December 7, 2020.
During the assault, one officer sustained injuries to the head and face, while another officer who came to help was stabbed in the hand. Tragically, the first officer lost his right eye due to the attack. A note discovered in El Bahnasawy’s sock revealed his intent, stating, “This is a terrorist attack for the Islamic State,” with a pledge of allegiance to ISIS found inside his locker.
El Bahnasawy has confessed to several charges including assault, assault with intent to commit murder, possession of contraband in prison, and providing support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Prior to the prison incident, he was implicated in a plot with two others to carry out bombings and shootings in densely populated areas of New York City in 2016.
Keyphrase: Prison Stabbings Terrorist Attack