A George Mason University student facing deportation has been charged with plotting an attack against the Israeli consulate in New York City. Court documents reveal that Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Muhammad Hassan allegedly shared bomb-making instructions and attack plans targeting the Manhattan consulate with an undercover FBI source. Hassan's arrest took place in Virginia on Tuesday.

The charges against Hassan include distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction to advance a federal crime. The FBI's New York office issued a statement reassuring the Jewish community of their commitment to identifying and disrupting potential threats, urging vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity.

A pro-Israel demonstration took place near the Israeli Consulate General in New York City, juxtaposed against a pro-Palestinian protest. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Hassan's social media activity, flagged by a tipster to the Fairfax County Police Department and subsequently the FBI, reportedly included posts praising ISIS and other extremist figures. According to authorities, starting in August, Hassan communicated with an FBI confidential source, believing he had recruited someone for a "mass casualty attack."

Demonstrators participated in a rally for Gaza outside the Israeli Consulate in New York City on October 9, 2023. (Jennifer Mitchell for Fox News Digital)

Over several weeks, Hassan is accused of guiding the informant on bomb-making, weapons acquisition, and creating a "martyrdom video." Prosecutors allege that in November, he chose the Israeli Consulate General as the target, believing an attack with small arms would be easier and offer a path to "martyrdom" at the hands of law enforcement. Hassan reportedly considered New York City a prime location for such an attack.

Court documents indicate Hassan suggested the source book flights to countries lacking extradition treaties with the U.S. He allegedly outlined attack scenarios involving either shooting people at the consulate with an assault rifle or detonating an explosive vest within a group. Authorities say Hassan also requested a livestream of the attack.

George Mason University student Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan faces federal charges related to a mass casualty threat in New York City.

George Mason University President Gregory Washington addressed the situation, stating enhanced security measures were being taken. Hassan, though not a campus resident, has been banned from university property. The university plans to address student code of conduct violations as legal proceedings unfold. In light of a separate November police search involving two students, the university highlighted recently implemented security enhancements, including a SWAT team, increased police presence, and a threat assessment team.

Sara Netanyahu and Ofir Akunis, Consul General of Israel, attended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Israel's Permanent Mission to the UN spokesperson, Jonathan Harounoff, affirmed Israel's resolve against terror and its commitment to justice and the return of hostages held in Gaza. Ofir Akunis, Israel's consul general in New York, expressed gratitude to authorities for preventing the alleged attack, emphasizing the global nature of the terrorist threat and the need for united action among Western democracies.