US: Pakistani Doctor Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison For Attempting To Support ISIS, Conduct 'Lone Wolf' Terror Attacks

A Pakistani doctor, who worked in the US on an H1-B visa, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to terror organisation ISIS and conduct "lone wolf" terrorist attacks in the United States.

Muhammad Masood, 31, was sentenced on Friday (25 August) to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Muhammad Masood, 31, a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, was formerly employed as a research coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B visa, the US Justice Department said.

"Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood used an encrypted messaging application to facilitate his travel overseas to join a terrorist organization. Masood made multiple statements about his desire to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), and he pledged his allegiance to the designated terrorist organization and its leader," the Justice Department said.

Masood also expressed his desire to conduct “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in the United States, it added.

On 16 March 2020, Masood’s travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Masood then agreed to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who he believed would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to ISIS territory," the US Justice Department said.

On 19 March 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California, it said.

Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Justice Department added.

"Masood pleaded guilty on Aug. 16, 2022, to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization," it said.