ISIS-K Operative Charged in US Court, Confesses to Abbey Gate Bombing Role and Moscow Attack Training
Muhammed Sharifullah, an alleged member of the ISIS-K terrorist group, is set to appear in a Virginia federal court Wednesday on charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the devastating 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and approximately 160 civilians.
The Justice Department confirmed Sharifullah’s capture and arrival in the United States, releasing photographs showing FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard awaiting him at an airport. The arrest was announced the previous night by President Donald Trump during an address before a joint session of Congress. Trump hailed the apprehension as a significant victory in the fight against terrorism, stating he was "pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity."
The Abbey Gate bombing occurred on August 26, 2021, during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. American and coalition forces were conducting an evacuation operation at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport when the attack occurred. Abbey Gate served as the primary entry point for the operation, with thousands of civilians gathered in the area hoping to escape the impending Taliban takeover.
According to the Justice Department, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, a member of ISIS-K, detonated a body-worn suicide bomb at Abbey Gate at approximately 5:36 p.m. The blast resulted in the immediate deaths of 13 U.S. military personnel and a large number of Afghan civilians seeking refuge. The attack significantly hampered the evacuation efforts and heightened the sense of urgency surrounding the U.S. withdrawal, which was completed a few days later as the Taliban seized control of the country.
Newly released Justice Department documents reveal that Sharifullah confessed to playing a crucial role in facilitating the Abbey Gate bombing. In interviews conducted by FBI Special Agents, Sharifullah admitted to scouting the attack route for the bomber. He stated that he was released from prison in Afghanistan just two weeks prior to the attack and was immediately contacted by an ISIS-K member seeking his assistance.
Sharifullah said ISIS-K provided him with a motorcycle, funds for a cell phone and SIM card, and instructions to open a specific social media account for communication. He was then tasked with conducting surveillance on a route near Hamid Karzai International Airport, specifically checking for law enforcement presence and American or Taliban checkpoints. After concluding that the route was clear and the attacker would likely go undetected, Sharifullah communicated this information to other ISIS-K members, who instructed him to leave the area. Later that day, he learned of the attack at Abbey Gate and recognized the bomber as an ISIS-K operative he had known in prison.
Adding to the severity of the charges, the affidavit also alleges Sharifullah’s involvement in the deadly terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow in March 2024, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 130 people. Sharifullah confessed to training gunmen involved in the attack, stating that he received an order from a senior ISIS-K leader to provide instructions on the proper use of AK-style rifles and other weapons. He shared video tutorials with several individuals who would later be identified as participants in the Moscow attack. Following the attack, Russian authorities arrested four gunmen, two of whom were recognized by Sharifullah as individuals he had trained.
The apprehension of Sharifullah has brought a sense of closure and justice to the families of the Abbey Gate victims. National security advisor Michael Waltz stated that President Trump had personally contacted the families at Arlington to inform them of Sharifullah’s capture. He conveyed the president’s promise to "get this guy," adding that the intelligence was shared with Pakistan, leading to his capture.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the Trump administration’s commitment to holding terrorists accountable, stating that "Under President Trump’s strong leadership on the world stage, this Department of Justice will ensure that terrorists like Mohammad Sharifullah have no safe haven, no second chances, and no worse enemy than the United States of America." FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, vowing that his agency "will never forget the loss of these American heroes" and "will continue to hunt down those who viciously murdered our warriors… and bring them to justice."
Sharifullah now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted on the charges of providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death. The case is a stark reminder of the continued threat posed by ISIS-K and the unwavering commitment of the United States to pursuing and prosecuting those responsible for acts of terrorism. The trial promises to be a significant event, shedding further light on the inner workings of ISIS-K and the individuals who support its violent agenda.
