Suspected Abbey Gate Bomber Convicted of Aiding ISIS, Jury Deadlocked on Attack Role
Mohammad Sharifullah, an alleged Islamic State group militant from Afghanistan, was convicted by a federal jury in Virginia for providing material support to ISIS-K, a regional branch of the Islamic State. The conviction is related to the deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate during the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 160 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Sharifullah was directly responsible for the deaths, which could have led to a life sentence. Sharifullah faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conviction. The trial highlighted the chaotic nature of the U.S. withdrawal and the complexities of attributing responsibility for the attack. 
