ISIS-K Operative Convicted Over Abbey Gate Bombing Role

A federal jury has convicted Afghan national Mohammad Sharifullah for his role in a nine-year conspiracy to provide material support and resources to ISIS-K, a designated foreign terrorist organisation.

The conviction centres on Sharifullah’s involvement in multiple ISIS-K operations, including the 26 August 2021 Abbey Gate bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The attack killed 13 US military service members and approximately 160 civilians during the evacuation from Afghanistan.

According to evidence presented at trial, ISIS-K leadership tasked Sharifullah with surveilling a route to the airport and confirming that it was clear of Taliban checkpoints. Prosecutors said this enabled suicide bomber Abdul Rahman al-Logari to reach Abbey Gate and carry out the attack.

The case also linked Sharifullah to a 20 June 2016 suicide bombing targeting Nepali security guards protecting the Canadian embassy in Kabul, and to the 22 March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack near Moscow, where ISIS-K gunmen used AK-style rifles to kill civilians.

Sharifullah was found to have supported more than a dozen ISIS-K attacks between 2016 and his apprehension in 2025. His activities included surveillance, transporting suicide bombers, handling weapons, relaying communications and recording explosions for ISIS-K propaganda.

He faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the US Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutory factors.

Read the press release here.