1 year ago
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MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two men person been formally charged successful what authorities described arsenic a "developing menace to the Jewish community."
MTA constabulary arrested Christopher Brown and Matthew Mahrer astatine Penn Station connected Saturday.
Brown, 21, from Aquebogue, Suffolk County told constabulary helium operates a achromatic supremacist Twitter radical that helium said "is truly cool," according to a transgression ailment made nationalist Sunday pursuing his arraignment.
He tweeted anti-Semitic threats nether the username "VrilKhan" and told detectives "I person a sick personality," the ailment said.
Police said Brown met different Mahrer, 22, astatine St. Patrick's Cathedral and had purchased a weapon for $650 successful Pennsylvania.
When helium was arrested astatine Penn Station by 2 MTA constabulary officers Brown was successful possession of an 8-inch subject benignant weapon with a 4-inch blade, a Swastika limb spot and skis mask, according to police.
"A imaginable calamity was averted erstwhile they were intercepted by constabulary officers astatine Penn Station, fixed that online postings indicated an intent to usage these weapons astatine a Manhattan synagogue," said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "Hateful anti-Semitic targeting of synagogues is deplorable."
Brown pleaded not blameworthy to felony weapons charges and a complaint of making a terroristic threat. He was ordered held without bail.
Mahrer pleaded not blameworthy to weapons charges. His bail was acceptable astatine $150,000.
Many successful the Jewish assemblage are already connected borderline aft a disturbing menace was made online 2 weeks agone by a New Jersey teen.
In a tweet connected Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had directed State Police to ramp up enactment for communities that could beryllium targets of hatred crimes.
Federal prosecutors are deciding whether much charges volition beryllium added to Brown's case. Both Brown and Mahrer are scheduled to look successful tribunal connected Nov. 23.
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