Prosecutor tells jury of a 9/11-style attack planned by Kenyan who trained as a pilot
- A Kenyan man, Cholo Abdi Abdullah, trained as a commercial pilot while plotting a terrorist attack.
- His plans included a suicide attack on a U.S. building inspired by past terrorist events.
- Abdullah's intentions came to light when he was arrested in July 2019, resulting in terrorism-related charges.
In July 2019, Cholo Abdi Abdullah was arrested in the Philippines while pursuing a commercial pilot's license. His plot to execute a 9/11-style attack on a U.S. building was discovered after he had spent four years planning the operation. Abdullah was reportedly training for this terrorist act on behalf of the militant group al-Shabab, a significant concern for U.S. national security. Federal prosecutors revealed that Abdullah, who operated from Nairobi, used online resources to learn tactics for breaching cockpit doors and researched previous terrorist attacks, including a 2019 incident that resulted in multiple casualties. Notably, among the deceased was an American businessman who had previously escaped the September 11 attacks in 2001. Despite his intense preparations, which included training in explosives and evasion, Abdullah's intentions were interrupted by his arrest. He was later transferred to U.S. custody in December 2020 after facing local charges. His self-representation during the trial indicates a lack of engagement with the judicial process, further complicating the legal proceedings. If convicted, Abdullah faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison. The trial is anticipated to last three weeks, revealing both the direct threat to U.S. security and the ongoing challenges related to international terrorism originating from East African militant groups.