Trenton, N.J. – A resident of Middlesex County, Omar Alkattoul, has admitted to transmitting a manifesto via the internet containing threats to attack a synagogue and Jewish individuals, as announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Nineteen-year-old Omar Alkattoul, from Sayreville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Trenton federal court before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch. He faced an information charging him with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce on or about November 1, 2022.
According to U.S. Attorney Sellinger, the defendant utilized social media to send a manifesto that contained a threat targeting a synagogue due to his hatred towards Jews. This act triggered a statewide alert and caused unease within the community. Sellinger stated that Alkattoul will now be sentenced for his crime, and they intend to seek a sentence that holds him accountable. He emphasized that no individual should become a target of violence or hate based on their religious beliefs, and protecting communities of faith and places of worship is a central focus of their office’s mission.
FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy commented on the matter, highlighting that while freedom of expression is permitted, law enforcement agencies must take action when expressions turn into specific threats towards others. Dennehy added that Alkattoul allegedly posted and planned to carry out an online manifesto targeting synagogues, explicitly stating it was intended as an attack on Jews. He commended the swift response by the Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force and their partners, emphasizing that hate-driven crimes have no place in society.
According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, on November 1, 2022, Alkattoul used a social media application to send a link to an individual containing a document titled “When Swords Collide.” He admitted to writing the document and confessed to targeting a synagogue. The document contained the following statement: “It’s in the context of an attack on Jews.” Another individual stated that Alkattoul had sent the document to at least five other people using a different social media application.
The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce, to which Alkattoul pleaded guilty, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2023.