Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, an Egyptian national and 18-year-old student at George Mason University in Virginia, was taken into custody on Tuesday by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He was busted for telling his plans for the attack to an undercover FBI informant. He faces federal charges on one count of “demonstrating how to manufacture an explosive with intent to murder internationally protected persons,” according to reports. 

He reportedly referred to the consulate as a “goldmine of targets” for such violent terrorist attacks. Additionally, Hassan shared radical Islamic jihadist propaganda, including a video on how to kill Jewish people, and explained to the undercover FBI informant detailed instructions on how to join ISIS, the Times of Israel reported. He also sent the informant bomb-making instructions and recommended including 30 mm aluminum ball bearings for shrapnel to cause extra harm. Hassan also told the informant to “livestream the attack” so he could “share with ISIS.”

Hasan was already facing deportation charges at the time of his arrest, the New York Post reported. The FBI released a statement about the planned attack, reassuring New York’s Jewish community of their diligent work to protect them from threats. 

“The FBI’s New York Office wants to reassure our Jewish community here in New York that our office — along with our law enforcement partners — remains vigilant in our efforts to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to our community, using every tool at our disposal to do so,” read a statement from the FBI.

George Mason University President Gregory Washington released a statement about Hassan’s planned attack. He detailed the university’s security efforts to ensure everyone’s safety and mentioned that Hasan was prohibited from being on GMU’s campus.

“I am writing to update you on a new situation we are managing relative to a student who was recently arrested by the FBI, as it has caused security concerns among some members of the community that I want to address,” said Washington. 

“As criminal proceedings progress, the university will take appropriate action on student code of conduct violations,” added Washington.

Ofir Akunis, Israel’s consul-general in New York City, expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the FBI and their diligent work in preventing the attack and apprehending Hassan. 

“This attempted attack by terror organizations is an attack on the sovereign soil of the State of Israel in its entirety,” Akunis said on Thursday to The Times of Israel. “It’s proof that terror knows no boundaries and that we must fight it everywhere and every time.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) also addressed the planned attack and the FBI’s actions to prevent it. 

“Grateful for the quick action taken by the FBI in apprehending the suspect and preventing this cowardly act of antisemitic terror from occurring,” Hochul said in a statement. “Hate has no place in New York, and we will always stand with our Jewish neighbors.”