COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 53-year-old Iraqi citizen residing in Columbus was sentenced to 178 months in federal prison today for attempting to aid a terrorist plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush.
Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab, motivated by his resentment towards the former President for the events of Operation Iraqi Freedom, sought to assist in the assassination attempt.
According to court documents, Shihab resided in Columbus from December 2020 until his arrest in May 2022. During this period, he allegedly attempted to provide material support to terrorists, including smuggling individuals associated with ISIS into the United States with the intention of carrying out the assassination.
The indictment further details that Shihab believed he successfully smuggled an individual into the country in late 2021, accepting $40,000 for the operation. However, this individual was fabricated by the FBI as part of their investigation.
Furthermore, Shihab conducted surveillance of the former President’s residence in Dallas, Texas, filming the perimeter and surrounding area. He also met with others in Columbus to discuss the plot and examine potential weapons and law enforcement uniforms.
Authorities apprehended Shihab in May 2022. He pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to terrorists in March 2023 and received his sentence today, including a lifetime of supervised release after completing his prison term.