A Kenyan national has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in a United States federal prison after being convicted of plotting a large-scale terrorist attack in Atlanta.
Prosecutors told the court the man planned to hijack a commercial passenger aircraft and crash it into the Bank of America Plaza, the tallest building in the city. Investigations revealed the plot was at an advanced stage, with detailed research conducted on airline security systems, cockpit access and flight operations.
Authorities said the suspect joined the al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia in 2015, where he underwent military training before being selected for an international attack. He later attended flight school in the Philippines, with his training financed by the group.
The plan was disrupted in July 2019 when he was arrested in the Philippines and transferred to U.S. custody. A federal jury convicted him on multiple terrorism-related charges, leading to the life sentences.
