Alleged Abbey Gate Bombing Plotter Arrives in U.S. to Face Justice

Mohammad Sharifullah, an alleged member of ISIS-K and the individual accused of playing a pivotal role in the devastating 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, has arrived on American soil to face justice. The bombing, which occurred during the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. military personnel and approximately 160 Afghan civilians.

Sharifullah was extradited on Tuesday night, according to former FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced the arrival on social media platform X. Patel’s message conveyed a sense of long-awaited closure, stating, "3 and 1/2 years later, justice for our 13."

The charges against Sharifullah are severe, including providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. He is expected to make his initial appearance in a federal court in Virginia, where the legal proceedings will formally commence.

The apprehension and extradition of Sharifullah represent a significant step in the pursuit of accountability for the Abbey Gate attack. The bombing was a horrific event that marked a tragic chapter in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, leaving a lasting impact on the families of the victims and the nation as a whole.

The Abbey Gate attack took place on August 26, 2021, at a critical juncture in the U.S. evacuation efforts at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. The airport served as the primary point of departure for American citizens, Afghan allies, and others seeking to flee the country as the Taliban rapidly gained control. Amid the desperate crowds seeking evacuation, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Abbey Gate, one of the main entry points to the airport.

The suicide bomber was identified as Abdul Rahman al-Logari, a member of ISIS-K, the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan. The attack claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members from the Marine Corps, Army, and Navy. Hundreds more were injured in the blast and the ensuing chaos.

The U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed shortly after the Abbey Gate bombing, marking the end of a two-decade-long military intervention. The Taliban swiftly seized control of the country, establishing a new government.

According to a Justice Department affidavit, Sharifullah confessed to playing a key role in the Abbey Gate attack. He admitted to scouting the attack route and training gunmen involved in a terrorist attack near Moscow the year before.

FBI Special Agents interviewed Sharifullah this week, during which he revealed that he was imprisoned in Afghanistan from 2019 until approximately two weeks before the Abbey Gate attack, the Justice Department said. Upon Sharifullah’s release, an ISIS-K member contacted Sharifullah to arrange for his assistance in an upcoming attack.

ISIS-K members provided Sharifullah with a motorcycle, funds for a cell phone and a SIM card, and instructions to open an account on a particular social media platform to communicate with them during the attack operation. After making these preparations for the attack, Sharifullah was tasked with scouting a route near Hamid Karzai International Airport for an attacker, the affidavit said. Sharifullah conducted surveillance on a route, specifically checking for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints.

The news of Sharifullah’s capture and extradition was first announced by former President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress. Trump emphasized the significance of bringing the alleged perpetrator to justice, stating, "Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice."

The legal proceedings against Sharifullah will likely be complex and lengthy. The prosecution will need to present compelling evidence to prove his involvement in the Abbey Gate bombing and his connection to ISIS-K. The defense may argue that Sharifullah’s confession was coerced or that he was not directly involved in the planning or execution of the attack.

The case against Sharifullah is being closely watched by the families of the victims of the Abbey Gate bombing and by the wider American public. Many are seeking justice and accountability for the devastating loss of life. The successful prosecution of Sharifullah would send a strong message that the U.S. will not relent in its pursuit of terrorists who target Americans, regardless of where they are located.