Jihadist group linked to terror attack on gardaí being probed

A still of Abdullah Khan’s attack on gardaí last summer.

Anti-terrorist officers are investigating the activities of a group of jihadists linked to a man who carried out an Islamist-inspired stabbing on a garda and an arson attack on a Conor McGregor pub.

In the first prosecution of a jihadist attack under the Terrorism Offences Act 2005, Abdullah Khan, aged 24, has pleaded guilty to terrorism offences, assault, and arson.

The day after he carried out an arson attack on the Black Forge Inn, owned by McGregor, on the Drimnagh Road, Dublin, on July 25, 2025, he was driven by an associate to Belfast.

Over the space of three days, Khan, who was homeless, got three successive flights to European destinations before flying back to Dublin on July 28.

The day after, Khan went to Woodies and bought a knife, one he used that day to deliberately target a garda in Dublin city, shouting “Allahu Akbar”, the “God is Great” phrase adopted by Islamist terrorists.

Detective Inspector Gavin Ross of the Special Detective Unit (SDU) told the Special Criminal Court that Khan was “part of a wider group of individuals with this mindset” and that their investigation was “still open”.

For the defence, Michael Bowman told the three-judge court that it may come to pass that there were “others operating in the shadows”, while his client was “operating in broad daylight”.

Khan admitted guilt and informed gardaí of his arson attack on the pub. He said he wanted to “send a message” to McGregor, who, he said, was “helping the far-right grow”, and to the State, for allowing people to insult prophet Muhammed, which he said was a “red line”. In interviews, he said: 

This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry.

He told detectives he started getting into radical ‘Salafi Jihadism’ online at the age of 18-19 and that his radicalisation got progressively stronger aged 20-21.

The court heard Khan had significant mental health difficulties, had left his parents’ home and was homeless.

Garda Gary Lynch and colleague Garda Patrick Nevin were strolling along Capel Street when Khan, who was walking behind, ran at them and stabbed Gda Lynch from behind, and repeatedly from the side. Footage was played.

Garda Lynch, who had only recently finished his probation, suffered serious lacerations to his arm. Despite this, he managed, using his baton and pepper spray, to fight off the attacker, as did his colleague.

The court heard of the deep physical and mental health impact of the assault.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor, presiding, praised the gardaí for their professionalism and “tremendous courage”. 

She set April 20 for sentencing.

• Cormac O'Keefe is Security Correspondent.