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Zada’s Role and Sentencing
Abdullah Haji Zada, who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty in April 2025 and is being sentenced as an adult. He faces up to 15 years in prison and will also be deported upon completing his sentence.
“Through incredible law enforcement effort and coordination, a violent terrorist attack on American soil was thwarted,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Law Enforcement Coordination and Investigation
The case was led by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with support from local and federal agencies, including:
- Homeland Security Investigations
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
- Oklahoma City Police Department
- Oklahoma City Community College Police
“Thanks to outstanding work… the defendant’s plan to kill innocent Americans in a terrorist attack on Election Day was stopped,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office.
