18-year-old arrested after threats to New Jersey synagogues 

Joe Bukuras   By Joe Bukuras for CNA

 

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Boston, Mass., Nov 11, 2022 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

An 18-year-old New Jersey resident has been arrested in connection with threats to synagogues and Jewish centers after he shared a document on social media taking credit for an attack that he said was motivated by “hatred toward Jews.”

Omar Alkattoul of Sayreville was arrested Thursday morning by federal authorities and charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce.

If convicted, Alkattoul could serve up to five years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted in Newark federal court.

According to a Nov. 10 press release from the U.S. attorney’s office for the district of New Jersey, documents filed in the case and statements made in court indicate that Alkattoul made his threats on social media Nov. 1.

Alkattoul sent a document that he wrote, titled “When Swords Collide,” to an individual on a social media app, according to the press release. Referring to the document, Alkattoul told the individual that “it’s in the context of an attack on Jews,” according to the press release.

Another individual said that the document was sent to at least five other people, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Alkattoul’s document says, “I am the attacker and I would like to introduce myself … I am a Muslim with so many regrets but I can assure you this attack is not one of them and Insha’Allah many more attacks like these against the enemy of Allah and the pigs and monkeys will come.”

“This attack was just to remind the Jews that as long as 1 Muslim remains in this world they will never live a pleasant life until the Muslims in Palestine, Syria, West Africa, and South Asia are living a pleasant life. The Jews support terror against the muslimeen and they always have. … So the motive of this attack is hatred towards Jews and their heinous acts and I don’t want anyone to tell me for a second that ‘not all Jews support terror against Muslims’ yes they do! They have since day one. Their Torah justifies their acts and let’s keep in mind it was a Jew that tried to kill the nebi SAW,” the document says.

A criminal complaint filed by the FBI shows that Alkattoul sent private messages to an individual expressing his approval of Dylann Roof, the South Carolina man who shot and killed nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation during a Bible study session.

In the messages, Alkattoul called the victims of the massacre the “n” word and also called them “christcucks.” He said that Muslims in the West should learn from Roof, according to the complaint.

The complaint showed that Alkattoul’s document also praised radical Islamic terrorists like Osama Bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the complaint, messages between Alkattoul and another individual show that Alkattoul considered attacking a gay nightclub.

A journalist for Eyewitness News ABC7NY who was in the courtroom with Alkattoul reported Nov. 10 that, as part of the complaint, “one of the things that the suspect talked about just last week was murdering all of the freshmen at his school in Sayreville.”

The journalist reported that the local authorities in Sayreville are cooperating with the FBI. The journalist also reported that “we did learn in court this afternoon that the suspect wanted to cut the throats of Jews and Christians.”

News of “a broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey broke last week when the FBI’s Newark office put an alert out on Twitter.

“Stay alert. In case of emergency call police,” the agency tweeted. “We are taking a proactive measure with this warning while investigative processes are carried out.”

Local media reported that there was a notable police presence around synagogues across the state.

“No one should be targeted for violence or with acts of hate because of how they worship,” U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in the press release.

“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,” Sellinger said.


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6 Comments

  1. The “Religion of Peace”! When a man does not have the peace of God within himself, he is at war with society.

    The Koran is a handbook of war. First and foremost, it is war against the God of the Bible. If Allah were the true and living God of Jacob, he wouldn’t be inciting violence against his ancient people israel False gods are not peaceful!

    God has good plans for the Jews according to the Bible. Allah has evil plotted for the Jews as we examine the Koran.

    Man’s hope lies in Jesus Christ. we need to reach out to Muslims so that come to know the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ of the Bible. IAn invitation is extended to examine the words of Jesus Christ.

    Isaiah 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

    Exodus 23:13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.

    Jeremiah 14:14-16 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.

    Jeremiah 6:13-15 “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord.

  2. Addendum: I would refer you to the website http://WWW.MEMRI.ORG – Mid East Media Research Institute.

    Just a few samples: (I am NOT making this up)

    Special Dispatch #354 3/13/02 – Saudi Government Daily – JEWS USE TEENAGERS’ BLOOD FOR ‘PURIM’ PASTRIES

    SD #756 7/30/04 – EGYPTIAN PARTY RULING NEWSPAPER – ‘THE HOLOCAUST IS A ZIONIST LIE AIMED AT EXTORTING THE WEST’

    SD #763 8/17/04 – EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT DAILY ON ‘THE JEWS SLAUGHTERING NON-JEWS, DRAINING THEIR BLOOD AND USING IT FOR TALMUDIC RELIGIOUS RITUALS’

    SPECIAL REPORT #11, 11/1/02 ‘BASED ON KORANIC VERSES, INTERPRETATION AND TRADITIONS, MUSLIM CLERICS STATE = THE JEWS ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF APES, PIGS, AND OTHER ANIMALS

    • A sad commentary on the falsehoods perpetuated against the Jews. Alas, the Koran endorses lying to further the aims of Islam as we find demonstrated in the nonsense stated in reference points you offer.

      Let us pray for the wellbeing of the Jews and pray for Muslims that they come to know Jesus Christ, the lover of their eternal souls.

  3. This man’s violent antisemitism is horrific. However, we should keep in mind that there is no single authoritative interpretation of Islam. His beliefs are no reflection on those of any other particular Muslim.

    Of course, as Catholics we want our Muslim friends to find salvation in Christ, but imputing to them a hatred of which they are not guilty would be unjust and counterproductive.

    • Your point is well taken and yet, when we face a conundrum, we might best turn to God for the solution!

      First, lets separate the man from Islam. When we look at the face of a man, we see the image of God. We try to help as best we can, this is what Christians are called to do. We are to speak the truth in love and that can ruffle feathers! I care about the individual Muslim, however, the religion of Islam is another matter. Even Muhammad said that the Bible is the final authority in solving problems or disputes.

      1 Thessalonians 5:21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

      Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

      Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

      Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

      2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

      Psalm 4:2 O men, how long shall my honour be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?

      Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

      2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

      Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

      God bless you for your kind caring heart.

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