A man with connections to Kenya has been convicted in a U.S. court for terrorism-related charges linked to the Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab. On Monday, a jury found Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 34, guilty on all six counts, including conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and planning to commit acts of terrorism such as hijacking an aircraft and attacking U.S. nationals.
Abdullah’s conviction follows a detailed investigation by the FBI and other international law enforcement agencies. He was linked to Al-Shabaab, an extremist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and spent months training in Somalia with the militia, learning to use weapons and explosives. After his training, Abdullah pursued a plan to hijack a commercial aircraft and crash it into a building in the U.S., aiming to replicate the devastating September 11 attacks.
During his time in the Philippines, Abdullah attended flight school and worked toward earning a commercial pilot’s license. His preparations included researching cockpit security, flight protocols, and potential U.S. targets, including the tallest buildings in major cities. He also communicated his progress to his Al-Shabaab handlers through encrypted messages.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of Abdullah’s actions: “Abdullah trained with Al-Shabaab for months in Somalia to become a deadly terrorist, and then spent months at flight school preparing to hijack a commercial aircraft to crash it into a building in the United States.”
The indictment also linked Abdullah to several high-profile Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks, including the January 2019 assault on a Nairobi hotel that killed 21 people, including a U.S. national. Further attacks in Somalia and Kenya targeted U.S. military facilities, resulting in American casualties.
Abdullah was convicted on six charges:
– Conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization (up to 20 years in prison)
– Providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (up to 20 years in prison)
– Conspiring to murder U.S. nationals (life in prison)
– Conspiring to commit aircraft piracy (minimum 20 years, maximum life)
– Conspiring to destroy aircraft (up to 20 years)
– Conspiring to commit transnational acts of terrorism (life in prison)
Abdullah’s sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2025, and he faces significant prison time for his role in plotting this violent attack. The U.S. Department of Justice, alongside the FBI and international law enforcement partners, is committed to pursuing terrorists regardless of where they operate. As Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “The Justice Department will never stop working to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who would use heinous acts of violence to harm the American people.”
This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by groups like Al-Shabaab and the critical importance of global cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. The U.S. Justice Department also thanked international partners from Kenya, the Philippines, and several other agencies for their collaboration in bringing Abdullah to justice.
