Middlesex County man admits to threatening attack on synagogue
Interior of the Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool, UK. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/Michael D. Beckwith
July 16 (ZFJ) – A Middlesex County man admitted to threatening to attack a synagogue and Jewish people via the internet.
19-year-old Omar Alkattoul pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce on Wednesday, July 12, regarding a crime committed around November 1, 2021.
Alkattoul used social media to share a link of his manifesto titled “When Swords Collide.” The document detailed his plans to attack a synagogue. Alkattoul allegedly sent the manifesto to upwards of five people.
His actions prompted the FBI Newark field office to issue an alert across New Jersey warning of a broad threat to synagogues and encouraging increased vigilance.
His sharing of the manifesto violated Title 18 Section 875(c) of the United States Code, which prohibits the transmission in interstate and foreign commerce of threats of violence or kidnapping against any person. Doing so is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The threat of violence is in line with recent trends surrounding antisemitic hate crimes. A study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League found that anti-semetic incidents are on the rise, with numbers jumping from 751 incidents in 2013 to 3,697 in 2022.
Bar graph detailing the rise and fall of antisemitic incidents from the year 2013 to 2022. ANTI-DEFMATION LEAGUE/Graphic
In addition, the ADL’s audit of antisemetic incidents finds that states along the East Coast account for a majority of anti-semitic incidents. New Jersey had 408 anti-semitic incidents in 2022.
Map of America portraying the amount of antisemitic hate crimes by state. ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE/Graphic
References
- United States Attorney’s Office - District of New Jersey - Middlesex County Man Admits Communicating Threats to Attack Synagogue - https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/middlesex-county-man-admits-communicating-threats-attack-synagogue (ARCHIVE)
- Anti-Defamation League - Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2022 - https://www.adl.org/resources/report/audit-antisemitic-incidents-2022 (ARCHIVE)