Kabul airport bombing case: Jury convicts Mohammad Sharifullah on ISIS-K conspiracy charge

Mohammad Sharifullah was convicted on Wednesday of a conspiracy charge tied to the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing. The case involved an Islamic State group branch known as ISIS-K. The attack happened during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. It killed about 160 Afghans and 13 US service members near Abbey Gate.

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A federal jury in Virginia found Sharifullah guilty of providing material support to ISIS-K. Jurors did not agree on whether deaths resulted from the conspiracy. That split decision ruled out a possible life term. Sharifullah now faced up to 20 years in prison on the single count.

Abbey Gate bombing trial and conviction details

Prosecutors described the bombing as part of the evacuation operation at Kabul airport. A lone attacker set off an improvised explosive device near the Abbey Gate entry point. Sharifullah did not testify during the weeklong trial. Judge Anthony Trenga did not set a sentencing date immediately after the verdict.

Defence lawyer Lauren Rosen challenged the government’s proof at trial. Rosen said prosecutors relied mainly on Sharifullah’s statements during long FBI interviews. Rosen argued Sharifullah may have repeated what agents expected to hear. Rosen also said Sharifullah feared torture while in Pakistani custody before transfer to the US.

"The problem was, he didnt know much about what actually happened that day,\" Rosen told jurors during the trials closing arguments. \"The government has told you nothing about how this attack actually happened.\"

Abbey Gate bombing claims by prosecutors

Justice Department prosecutor Ryan White said Sharifullah had an important role in planning the Abbey Gate attack. White also linked Sharifullah to other ISIS-K actions. These included the March 2024 Moscow concert hall attack. That incident killed roughly 140 people, White told the court.

\"The defendant thought nothing of killing,\" White said. \"For him, it was just another day at the office.\"

The case drew wider political attention in the United States. President Donald Trump mentioned the international terrorism case last year. Trump did so in a speech to a joint session of Congress. Sharifullah showed no clear reaction in court as the jury delivered its decision.

Abbey Gate bombing findings and security review

A US Central Command review identified the Abbey Gate bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari. The review said Abdul Rahman al-Logari was released from an Afghan prison by the Taliban. An FBI affidavit said Sharifullah recognised the alleged bomber. The affidavit said Sharifullah knew the operative from time in prison.

A former Marine also testified to Congress about the morning of the bombing. The testimony said two possible suspects were seen acting in a suspicious way. The former Marine said permission to respond was not given. However, the Central Command review said snipers did not spot the actual bomber.

The review also said the attack was not preventable under the conditions that day. Separate fallout continued around the Abbey Gate prosecution team. A prosecutor assigned to the case was fired last year. The removal followed public criticism by a right-wing commentator.

Michael BenAry’s ouster was described as part of a wider shake-up. The change affected Justice Department veterans seen as not loyal to Trump. Sharifullah’s sentencing still awaited a date from Judge Anthony Trenga. The conviction left Sharifullah facing a maximum of 20 years in prison.

With inputs from PTI