A Calgary man has been sentenced to six years in prison for his involvement in facilitating terrorism through the posting of a TikTok video.
According to court documents, 21-year-old Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries.
The charges stem from a TikTok video posted by El Bahnasawy in 2015, in which he expressed support for the Islamic State and threatened to carry out attacks in New York City. The video caught the attention of authorities, who launched an investigation into El Bahnasawy’s activities.
During the investigation, it was revealed that El Bahnasawy had been communicating with two other individuals, one in Pakistan and one in the Philippines, about carrying out attacks in New York City. The three men had discussed potential targets, including Times Square and the New York City subway system.
In May 2016, El Bahnasawy traveled to the United States from Canada and was arrested by the FBI upon his arrival. The other two individuals were also arrested in their respective countries.
In a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated, “El Bahnasawy’s actions demonstrate the serious threat posed by individuals who use social media to spread extremist ideologies and incite violence.”
The sentencing of El Bahnasawy serves as a reminder of the importance of monitoring and addressing online radicalization and the potential for individuals to use social media platforms to plan and carry out acts of terrorism.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Philippine National Police. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
As El Bahnasawy begins his six-year prison sentence, authorities continue to monitor and address the threat of online radicalization and the potential for individuals to use social media as a tool for terrorism.
