A US federal court has sentenced Islamic State group member Mohammad Sharifullah to 20 years in prison for providing material support to the terrorist affiliate that claimed responsibility for the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, which killed 13 US service members and roughly 160 Afghans. Jurors could not agree on whether he bore responsibility for the bombing itself.
Key facts
- Mohammad Sharifullah, 28, was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison.
- He was convicted in April by a federal jury in Virginia of providing material support to Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
- The 26 August 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 US service members and about 160 Afghans.
- Jurors could not agree on whether Sharifullah bore responsibility for the airport bombing itself.
- The attack occurred during the US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
An Islamic State group member has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for aiding the terrorist organisation that took credit for a suicide bombing at Kabul airport five years ago, according to the Guardian.
Mohammad Sharifullah, 28, received the sentence on Wednesday. The 26 August 2021 bombing killed 13 US service members and about 160 Afghans during the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
A federal jury in Virginia convicted Sharifullah in April of providing material support to the IS affiliate known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Guardian reported.
The jurors could not agree on whether Sharifullah bore some responsibility for the airport bombing itself. His conviction was for aiding the group rather than for direct involvement in the attack.
The bombing was one of the deadliest incidents for US forces during the final days of America’s presence in Afghanistan, and it remains a focal point in discussions about the withdrawal.
Why it matters
The 2021 Kabul airport bombing was among the deadliest attacks on US forces during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, making accountability for those linked to it a significant issue for victims' families and the public. The sentencing marks a step in US efforts to prosecute members of the Islamic State affiliate behind the attack, though the jury did not find Sharifullah directly responsible for the bombing.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mohammad Sharifullah?
Mohammad Sharifullah, 28, is an Islamic State group member who was convicted of providing material support to the IS affiliate known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
What was he convicted of?
A federal jury in Virginia convicted him in April of providing material support to ISKP. Jurors could not agree on whether he bore responsibility for the airport bombing itself.
How many people died in the Kabul airport bombing?
The 26 August 2021 suicide bombing killed 13 US service members and about 160 Afghans.