1 year ago
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CNN —
Two men person been arrested and charged successful transportation with online threats to onslaught a New York City synagogue, aggregate instrumentality enforcement sources person told CNN.
New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced the arrests successful a connection Saturday. Investigators from the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and the NYPD Counterterrorism and Intelligence Bureau, successful collaboration with instrumentality enforcement partners, uncovered what she called “a processing menace to the Jewish community” connected Friday.
Authorities “moved swiftly to stitchery information, place those down it, and operationally neutralize their quality to bash harm,’ Sewell said.
Christopher Brown, 21, from Aquebogue, New York, is being charged with making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment, and transgression possession of a weapon. Matthew Mahrer, 22, of Manhattan, is facing a azygous complaint of transgression possession of a weapon, a NYPD spokeswoman said.
It is not yet wide if either of the men person ineligible representation.
Officers from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) arrested Brown and Mahrer arsenic they were entering Penn Station successful Manhattan aboriginal Saturday, according to Sewell. The officers besides seized “a ample hunting knife, an amerciable Glock 17 firearm and 30-round magazine, and respective different items,” the commissioner said.
After apprehending them, the 2 men “were turned implicit to the NYPD and FBI,” the MTA said successful a statement.
“The tremendous constabulary enactment present reflects the MTA PD’s halfway intent – protecting millions of regular commuters, successful collaboration with our local, authorities and national instrumentality enforcement partners,” the MTA said.
Law enforcement sources told CNN the threats began appearing connected a Twitter relationship connected November 12 and were traced precocious Friday to a machine astatine a veterinary session wherever 1 of the suspects worked.
The threats allegedly included references to attacking a synagogue: “Gonna inquire a clergyman if I should go a hubby oregon sprout up a synagogue and die,” 1 station allegedly read.
Sources said 1 of the messages contained a notation to “big moves being made connected Friday.” That connection cited a clip of 11:30 p.m., but gave nary circumstantial target.
After being alerted to the online messages, FBI agents from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and detectives from the NYPD’s quality bureau began what was a root described arsenic “frantic efforts” to place and find the suspects.
CNN has reached retired to the NYPD and FBI for authoritative comment.
Law enforcement sources told CNN that by precocious Friday, authorities had zeroed successful connected 2 individuals. It is not wide if either of those arrested person ineligible representation.
Sources said authorities issued a alleged “Be connected the Lookout” – oregon “bolo” – alert to the phones of thousands of constabulary officers successful New York City with a representation and a statement of 1 of those being sought. MTA constabulary were notified that the individuals whitethorn beryllium traveling back-and-forth from Long Island to New York City oregon Pennsylvania, according to the sources.
Investigators were capable to place an code connected 94th Street connected Manhattan’s westbound broadside associated with a suspect’s friend, the sources said. When constabulary and the FBI arrived there, they learned the 2 suspects had been determination and dropped disconnected a backpack, and were connected their mode to Penn Station, according to the sources.
Sources said the backpack was recovered with a Glock semi-automatic firearm, a shade weapon with an extended 30 circular mag and laser sight. When the 2 suspects were spotted by MTA Police astatine Penn Station they were taken into custody, the sources added.
Investigators told CNN determination is simply a beardown content among instrumentality enforcement that an imminent onslaught whitethorn person been prevented.
Sources said that content is attributed to the information 1 fishy had made a fig of threatening posts; obtained a semi-automatic weapon; and had a Nazi armband; a ample knife; and a achromatic skis mask.
“Today, we’re highly grateful to NYPD investigators and our instrumentality enforcement partners who uncovered and stopped a menace to our Jewish community,” Sewell tweeted. “This morning’s arrests successful Penn Station and limb seizures are impervious of their vigilance & collaboration that keeps New Yorkers safe.”
This latest menace of unit against synagogues comes much than a week aft a New Jersey antheral was arrested aft being accused of making threats to onslaught a synagogue and Jewish people.
New York authorities leads the federation successful anti-Semitic incidents, with astatine slightest 416 reported successful 2021, including astatine slightest 51 assaults – the highest fig ever recorded by the Anti-Defamation League successful New York. There were 12 assaults reported successful 2020, the ADL said successful an audit past week.
A full of 2,717 antisemitic incidents were reported past twelvemonth crossed the federation – a 34% summation compared to 2,026 successful 2020, according to the ADL.
The ADL has been tracking specified incidents since 1979 – and its erstwhile reports person recovered that antisemitism successful America has been connected the emergence for years.
The US assaults past twelvemonth included that of a Jewish antheral successful New York who was beaten and kicked portion antisemitic slurs were hurled astatine him. He was connected his mode to a pro-Israel objection successful Times Square.
English (US)