ISIS Terrorist Sentenced for Stabbing Officers

A man associated with ISIS, who plotted a major attack on New York City reminiscent of 9/11, received an additional 50 years in prison on Monday for stabbing two correctional officers—an attack that left one officer without his right eye. This new sentence adds to his existing 40-year term related to his earlier terror conspiracy.

Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, a 28-year-old from Ontario, Canada, now faces a total of 90 years in prison after admitting guilt to charges resulting from the assault in December 2020 at a federal prison in Pennsylvania, as reported by the Justice Department.

This latest sentence comes while his mother, Khadiga Metwally, runs for a position on a school board near Toronto—a district recently in the news due to a controversy surrounding a teacher who wore large prosthetic breasts to class.

El Bahnasawy’s original charges stemmed from a 2016 plot to cause devastation in New York, intending to detonate explosives in Times Square and subway stations, as well as attack concert-goers during Ramadan.

He was arrested in May 2016 after traveling from Canada to New York, preparing for these attacks. However, even while incarcerated, prosecutors claim that his violent inclinations persisted.

On December 7, 2020, he attacked a correctional officer at the US Penitentiary Allenwood, stabbing him in the head and face with a weapon fashioned from a piece of a steel desk found in his cell. The injuries were severe enough that the guard lost his right eye.

After the first officer was attacked, another came to assist, and El Bahnasawy subsequently stabbed her in the hand. Following the incident, a note recovered from his sock read, “This is a terrorist attack for the Islamic State.” Additionally, a pledge to ISIS was found inside a locker in his cell.

In November 2025, El Bahnasawy pleaded guilty to charges including attempted murder, possession of contraband, and providing support to ISIS. “Today’s sentence ensures that Bahnasawy remains off the streets and unable to cause further harm,” stated Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

El Bahnasawy’s lawyer, Andy Frisch, attributed the prison stabbing to his client’s mental health issues, emphasizing a lack of proper psychiatric treatment. “He’s not a terrorist,” Frisch expressed, noting that expert evaluations confirmed conditions like schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.

Frisch mentioned that El Bahnasawy’s parents had repeatedly informed prison authorities about their son’s need for medication and treatment, but their concerns went unanswered. “Those emails were ignored,” he reiterated.

Frisch argued that the inadequate treatment and conditions in prison exacerbated his client’s mental health, leading to the violent incident. “I hope that addressing the needs of correctional officers means also acknowledging the treatment of mentally ill inmates,” he stated.

When asked if there would be an appeal, Frisch noted that El Bahnasawy and his family are still considering their options.

The Justice Department has yet to respond to requests for commentary regarding the case.