Convicted Kenyan terrorist who planned 9/11-style attack in US to know fate in April
Authorities believe Abdullah intended to hijack a commercial aircraft and crash it into a tall building in Atlanta, mimicking the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre.
A Kenyan man convicted of planning a 9/11-style terrorist attack in the United States will know his fate on April 7, 2025, after a judge postponed his sentencing.
Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 35, had initially refused legal representation but later requested new lawyers for the final stage of his trial, according to Daily Nation.
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During his trial, Abdullah questioned the legitimacy of the US justice system and declined both private and government-appointed legal representation.
However, during a private conference with US District Judge Analisa Torres, he expressed a change of heart.
“I was thinking of having new lawyers who will represent me… I don’t want these two lawyers to represent me. I want to start afresh,” Abdullah said, according to Nation.
This shift raised speculation that he might be preparing to appeal his conviction on six terror-related charges.
Abdullah faces the possibility of life in prison for three of the charges, while the remaining three could each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.
His legal troubles began when he was arrested in the Philippines on July 1, 2019. At the time, he was found in possession of a loaded firearm, extra ammunition, an explosive device, and materials used to make bombs.
Investigations revealed that Abdullah had been recruited by the Somalia-based Al Shabaab terror group in 2015 before traveling to the Philippines a year later to train as a pilot.
His arrest followed a tip-off from his mother, who reported to Kenyan authorities that her son had joined Al Shabaab.
This alert led to a coordinated effort involving security agencies from Kenya, the US, and the Philippines, ultimately leading to his capture.
Authorities believe Abdullah intended to hijack a commercial aircraft and crash it into a tall building in Atlanta, mimicking the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre.
Court records showed that he had already secured a private pilot’s license and was close to obtaining a commercial pilot’s license when he was arrested.
Prosecutors told Judge Torres, “The defendant secured his private pilot’s license and came terrifyingly close to getting his commercial pilot’s license just before he was arrested.”
Evidence presented in court indicated that he had conducted extensive online research on cockpit breaches and the construction of explosive devices.
During FBI interrogations, he identified his handler as Ali Salim Gichunge, also known as Farouk. Gichunge was among the five Al Shabaab militants responsible for the January 2019 attack on 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi, which left 22 people dead, including a Kenya Defence Forces officer.
Both Abdullah and Gichunge hail from Isiolo County and joined Al Shabaab in 2015. Abdullah’s training as a militant and subsequent enrollment in a Philippine aviation school were reportedly financed by Al Shabaab leaders.
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