UPDATE: A Kenyan national has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for plotting a devastating terrorist attack on Atlanta’s skyline. Cholo Abdi Abdullah, a 34-year-old al-Shabaab operative, intended to hijack a commercial airliner and crash it into the Bank of America Plaza, according to federal prosecutors.
This urgent sentencing follows Abdullah’s conviction on multiple terror-related charges, with details confirmed by both FOX 5 Atlanta and WALB News. His nefarious plans, which mirror the infamous September 11 attacks, were thwarted thanks to the relentless efforts of U.S. law enforcement.
Abdullah’s ties to al-Shabaab date back to 2015, where he spent about a year in Somalia receiving extensive military training in weapons and explosives. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton labeled Abdullah as “a highly trained al-Shabaab operative dedicated to recreating the horrific September 11 terrorist attacks.”
His ambitions extended beyond Somalia; from October 2017 to July 2019, Abdullah pursued flight training in the Philippines, aiming for a commercial pilot license. This training was reportedly funded by al-Shabaab’s extensive extortion activities back home.
Authorities revealed that Abdullah conducted thorough research on Delta flights and meticulously analyzed Atlanta’s cityscape, displaying a distinct focus on the Bank of America Plaza as his chosen target. He was apprehended before acquiring the necessary instrument rating for a major airline position.
In a chilling reminder of the severity of his plot, Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg stated, “We thwarted this plot due to the relentless efforts of U.S. law enforcement and thereby likely saved many innocent lives.” Abdullah intensified his planning in January 2019 after receiving updates from his al-Shabaab handlers regarding an attack in Nairobi.
He was found guilty of six counts, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to murder U.S. nationals abroad, and attempting aircraft piracy. Eisenberg emphasized that Abdullah’s life sentence serves as a powerful reminder that those who plot attacks against the United States will face the full force of the law.
The successful operation to bring Abdullah to justice was a collaborative effort involving the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and various international and U.S. law enforcement agencies. With Abdullah now sentenced, the case is officially closed, providing a critical sense of security for Atlanta and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
