A federal jury in Manhattan has convicted Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a Kenyan national, of plotting a 9/11-style attack on a U.S. building on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab.
Abdullah was found guilty on all six charges relating to his conspiracy to hijack an aircraft and use it as a weapon. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for next March.
During the trial, which began last week, Abdullah opted to represent himself, choosing not to deliver an opening statement or actively engage in the questioning of witnesses.
Prosecutors indicated that Abdullah’s intention was to allow the trial to unfold without challenge, asserting his belief that the judicial process was not legitimate.
The prosecution presented evidence that Abdullah had been plotting the attack for four years, acquiring extensive training in explosives and stealth tactics.
His journey included moving to the Philippines in 2017, where he began training as a commercial pilot and was nearing the completion of a two-year program when he was arrested in 2019.
Documents revealed that Abdullah had researched methods to breach cockpit doors and sought information about prominent U.S. buildings. Al-Shabab, the militant group Abdullah aligned with, has been designated by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization since 2008, known for its attempts to impose an Islamic state in Somalia based on Shariah law.
