A convicted Islamic State terrorist who plotted mass murder in New York City just received 50 more years after blinding a federal prison guard in a brutal stabbing.
Story Highlights
- Justice Department says Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy gets 50 more years for a prison assault.
- Attack at U.S. Penitentiary Allenwood in 2020 left one officer without his right eye.
- New sentence runs consecutive to his separate 40-year term for an ISIS plot.
- Federal data show hundreds of assaults on prison staff each year, with dozens of serious injuries.
Court Ruling Adds Consecutive Time for 2020 Prison Attack
The United States Department of Justice announced a 50-year sentence for Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy for attacking two correctional officers at United States Penitentiary Allenwood in December 2020. Prosecutors said he used a metal weapon made from a steel desk. He stabbed one officer in the head and face and another in the hand. The first officer lost his right eye. The judge ordered the 50 years to run after his current 40-year term for a separate Islamic State plot.
Officials identified El Bahnasawy as a 28-year-old from Ontario, Canada, who was already serving time for planning mass-casualty attacks in New York City. The new punishment reflects the grave harm to the officers and the use of a homemade weapon inside a federal prison. The Justice Department release framed the assault as inspired by Islamic State ideology and emphasized the need to protect staff and maintain order behind bars.
What Happened Inside Allenwood and Why It Matters
Investigators said the assault happened quickly and targeted the officers’ heads and hands, places where wounds can turn fatal. The loss of an eye shows how violent the strike was. The second officer’s hand injury also points to a close, chaotic fight. This was not a scuffle. This was a planned attack with a crafted weapon. For readers who back law and order, the case underlines a simple point: officers need strong backup from the courts when inmates turn violent.
Federal prison leaders face this danger often. Bureau of Justice Statistics data show 934 physical assaults on federal prison staff in 2024, with 28 causing serious injury. That number confirms the risk officers accept to keep order for the rest of us. When a terrorist inmate blinds an officer, justice must be firm. Long, consecutive sentences send a clear message to violent offenders that hurting staff will not stand.
How Federal Sentencing Stacks in Terror and Prison Violence Cases
Federal law often allows judges to stack sentences for separate crimes. In terrorism and violent prison assault cases, that can add up to near-life terms, even if no single count carries life by itself. Consecutive time protects the public and staff by keeping the most dangerous offenders locked up longer. In El Bahnasawy’s case, the 50 years come on top of a 40-year term for his earlier Islamic State plot, reflecting two separate sets of crimes and harms.
#NewsAlert: ISIS-Inspired Terrorist Sentenced for Attacking Guards While Serving Sentence for Separate NYC Terror Plot
Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 28, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison for offenses related to a 2020 attack on correctional officers at… pic.twitter.com/UWX9BiPs8V
— FBI (@FBI) October 20, 2026
Conservative readers will see a needed course correction here. For years, soft-on-crime voices pushed leniency while frontline officers paid the price. This outcome moves the other way. It backs the men and women who walk tiers and break up fights every day. It also shows President Trump’s Justice Department prioritizing safety and order in federal facilities. When terrorists attack Americans—on the street or in a cellblock—the answer must be swift, lawful, and strong.
Sources:
nypost.com, justice.gov, ovc.ojp.gov
