Federal Agents Stop A Crime Before It Happens

On November 10, Federal Law Enforcement Officials stopped a potential shooter in the New Jersey area. Eighteen-year-old Omar Alkattoul was charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce the week before.

In a released criminal complaint, Alkattoul is said to have been active on a server through which he communicated his hatred for Jewish and LGBTQ people with what seemed to be like-minded individuals. He “communicated to Individual-3 that he could conduct an attack on Jewish or gay people, but claimed that he did not have adequate resources to do so. Specifically, Alkattoul stated that he told Individual-3 that he could attack synagogues or gay clubs. Alkattoul told law enforcement that he considered an attack on a synagogue in New York but would need two years to prepare for such an attack.”

Alkattoul allegedly sent the link to his screed, which outlined attacks on Jewish communities and justifications for violence, to several people within the server, several of whom he believed were members of ISIS. According to the authorities, Alkattoul was out to avenge the killings of Muslims, including the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019.

The criminal complaint states that he admitted to the authorities that he sent a message that said, “God cursed the Jewish people and God should burn gay people.” Alkattoul stated that some of his violent messages, such as the one where he stated that he would “face or curb stomp” the next LGBTQ person he saw, were in a LARPing chat where they played as religious extremists.

After being warned of a broad threat against synagogues in New Jersey on November 8, the FBO stated that the threat had passed with no suspects.

U.S. Attorney Phil Sellinger says in a statement, “No one should be targeted for violence or with acts of hate because of how they worship.” Sellinger continued, “There is nothing the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes more seriously than threats to our communities of faith and places of worship. Protection of these communities is core to this office’s mission, and this office will devote whatever resources are necessary to keep our Jewish community and all New Jersey residents safe.”