Kenyan National Sentenced to Life for Terror Plot
Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a 34-year-old Kenyan national with ties to the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab, was sentenced on December 22, 2025, to two consecutive life terms in prison in a New York courtroom. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres handed down the sentence following Abdullah's conviction on November 4, 2024, for his role in plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
Details of the Foiled 9/11-Style Attack
Prosecutors revealed that Abdullah's plot aimed to replicate the devastating September 11, 2001, attacks. His plan involved hijacking a commercial airliner and crashing it into the Bank of America Plaza, a 55-story skyscraper in Atlanta, Georgia. To execute this, Abdullah pursued a commercial pilot's license at a flight school in the Philippines between October 2017 and July 2019, with his training financed by al-Shabaab. During this period, he conducted extensive online research into airline security, cockpit doors, and potential targets, specifically looking into 'Delta flights' and the 'Tallest building in Atlanta.'
Al-Shabaab Affiliation and Training
Abdullah joined al-Shabaab in 2015 and underwent military-style training in Somalia, which included instruction on firing AK-47 assault rifles and making explosives. Senior operatives within the group then recruited him for the international plot, tasking him with becoming a pilot to carry out the attack. He was arrested in the Philippines in July 2019, just shy of completing his commercial pilot's license requirements, and was transferred to U.S. custody in December 2020. Abdullah later admitted to FBI agents that he 'was fully prepared to die in his terrorist attack.'
Legal Proceedings and Official Statements
Abdullah was convicted on six terrorism-related counts, including:
- Conspiring to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization
- Conspiring to murder U.S. nationals
- Conspiring to commit aircraft piracy
- Conspiring to destroy aircraft
- Committing acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated, 'Abdullah, an al-Shabaab terrorist, sought to replicate the most horrific terrorist attack in our history, as he prepared to hijack a commercial airliner to take down a building on U.S. soil. We thwarted this plot due to the relentless efforts of U.S. law enforcement and thereby likely saved many innocent lives.' U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton added that Abdullah 'was a highly trained al-Shabaab operative who was dedicated to recreating the horrific September 11 terrorist attacks.'
5 Comments
Bermudez
While the prevention of a 9/11-style attack is a significant achievement for national security, it's important to continuously review and upgrade our airport security protocols, as these groups are always adapting their methods.
Habibi
Another example of security theater. The real threats are often overlooked.
Mariposa
They always catch the low-level operatives. What about the masterminds?
Muchacha
This verdict rightly punishes a dangerous individual and protects public safety. Yet, we must also consider whether such severe sentences truly deter those already committed to martyrdom, or if they sometimes fuel extremist narratives.
Bella Ciao
This sends a clear message to terrorists: you will be caught and punished.