FBI arrests university student over alleged plot to attack Israeli consulate

The FBI has arrested an 18-year-old student from George Mason University (GMU), accusing him of being involved in a plot to attack the Israeli consulate in New York, in a case involving an undercover informant or agent who helped the teenager come up with the plan.

Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, a first-year student and an Egyptian national, has been charged with one count of distributing information related to explosives that could be used to murder internationally protected persons. The criminal complaint was filed on Monday.

Hassan is currently undergoing deportation proceedings, according to US officials, though the process will likely be delayed until the criminal case is resolved and Hassan completes any sentence if convicted.

According to the criminal complaint, an "FBI confidential human source" contacted Hassan in August, and the two planned an attack on the Israeli consulate together. The attack was to be carried out by the FBI source, while Hassan was responsible for planning it.

Read more: FBI arrests university student over alleged plot to attack Israeli consulate