New York Man Accused Of Threatening To Blow Up Synagogue Had Nazi Arm Patch

Two men have been arrested in connection with making online threats against the New York City Jewish community, including statements about attacking a synagogue.

Christopher Brown, 21, from Aquebogue, was charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon and other weapons charges, according to court documents. He purchased a gun for $650 from Matthew Mahrer, from Manhattan before he was arrested Friday.

The FBI and the New York Police Department (NYPD) are jointly investigating this case.

Brown had tweeted antisemitic threats under the username "VrilKhan". One now-deleted post read, "Gonna ask a priest if I should become a husband or shoot up a synagogue and die," CNN reported.

Another message referred to "big moves being made on Friday," but no specified target was mentioned. The tweets began appearing on the social media platform on Nov. 12.

FBI agents from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and NYPD's intelligence bureau made "frantic efforts" to identify and locate the suspect and by late Friday, authorities traced the tweets to a computer in his workplace.

A "Be on the Lookout" or "bolo" alert was sent to the phones of thousands of police officers in NYC with a picture and description of one of the suspects.

Investigators learned Brown had dropped off a backpack at Mahrer's house in Manhattan and was headed to Penn Station. Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officers were alerted that the suspect may be traveling to-and-fro Long Island to NYC or Pennsylvania, reports said. They found Brown and Mahrer at the station and arrested them immediately.

Police found a Swastika arm patch, an 8-inch military-style knife, a 4-inch blade and a ski mask when they arrested Brown, ABC reported. Additionally, the backpack recovered from the apartment had a Glock semi-automatic firearm, a ghost gun with an extended 30-round magazine and a laser sight.

Mahrer was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, CNN reported. It's unclear if Brown and Mahrer have an attorney representing them.

Investigators believe they have prevented an imminent attack.

"A potential tragedy was averted when they were intercepted by police officers at Penn Station, given that online postings indicated an intent to use these weapons at a Manhattan synagogue," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said "Hateful antisemitic targeting of synagogues is deplorable."

Brown pleaded not guilty and was ordered to be held without bail Sunday. Mahrer pleaded not guilty to weapons charges, and his bail was set at $150,000. Federal prosecutors are considering additional charges.