Law enforcement authorities in New York City say they have arrested two men in a move they believe stopped a “developing threat to the Jewish community.”
The New York Police Department along with federal law enforcement said in a statement Saturday that authorities uncovered a threat to the Jewish community that reportedly involved a threat against a synagogue that led to the arrest of two men at New York City’s Penn Station, WNYW-TV reported.
“By early Saturday, the NYPD’s exhaustive intelligence-gathering led to the arrest by sharp-eyed MTA police officers of two individuals entering Penn Station, in Manhattan, and the seizures of a large hunting knife, an illegal Glock 17 firearm and 30-round magazine, and several other items,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said about the Saturday morning arrests of two men.
“As a joint investigation now continues to establish a strong prosecution, Police Department commanders are strategically deploying assets at sensitive locations throughout New York City.”
NEW JERSEY SYNAGOGUES ARE UNDER ‘CREDIBLE’ THREAT: FBI
The two men arrested were 21-year-old Christopher Brown and 22-year-old Matthew Mahrer, the NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The department confirmed that Brown has been charged with aggravated harassment, terroristic threats and criminal possession of a weapon while Mahrer has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
CHARGES ANNOUNCED OVER THREATS TO NJ SYNAGOGUES, SUSPECT HAD HISTORY OF ANTI-JEWISH SENTIMENT
Keechant Sewell, police commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), speaks during a news conference
(Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The two men reportedly made threats to an undisclosed synagogue and Brown was in possession of an armband with a swastika on it, the New York Post reported.
“Today, we’re extremely grateful to NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners who uncovered and stopped a threat to our Jewish community,” the department posted on Twitter. “This morning’s arrests in Penn Station and weapon seizures are proof of their vigilance & collaboration that keeps New Yorkers safe.”
ILLINOIS CEMETERY HEADSTONES DEFACED WITH SWASTIKAS AND ANTISEMITIC STATEMENTS
The entrance to Penn Station, Madison Square Garden and the James A. Foley building in the Manhattan borough of New York.
(Reuters/Lucas Jackson)
New York City has witnessed a surge of hate crimes targeting Jewish people, and the NYPD released figures earlier this year showing that the attacks were up 300%.
Additionally, several high profile attacks have taken place at synagogues nationwide over the past few years, including a massacre at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, synagogue that killed 11.
