Latest news with #Alkhader
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
NY man pleads guilty to firing shots outside Jewish synagogue in Albany
An upstate New York man pleaded guilty Tuesday to firing two shotgun blasts outside a Jewish synagogue in Albany on the first night of Hanukkah in 2023. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, had been arrested at the scene outside Temple Israel on Dec. 7, 2023, after the gunfire sent the synagogue into lockdown. Alkhader shouted 'Free Palestine!' outside the house of worship and later told federal investigators that 'events in the Middle East have impacted him.' He opened fire exactly two months after Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the brutal and ongoing war in Gaza. 'The defendant's violent, antisemitic and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence,' U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman said in a statement. Alkhader pleaded guilty to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during a crime and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. He faces a minimum of seven years in prison at his sentencing hearing in June. More than 60 children were inside Temple Israel at a daycare when Alkhader opened fire, according to investigators. No one was wounded by the blasts, and Alkhader's gun jammed before he could fire a third shot. The firearm conspiracy charge was added because Alkhader acquired the weapon from another man, Andrew Miller, who illegally bought it for him in November 2023. Miller copped to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 14 months behind bars. With News Wire Services
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
New York man pleads guilty to federal charges for firing gun outside synagogue
New York man pleads guilty to federal charges for firing gun outside synagogue Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says US will take over war-torn Gaza Strip President Donald Trump said during a news conference with Israel's prime minister that the U.S. should "takeover" the war-torn Gaza Strip. A New York man pleaded guilty to civil rights and firearm charges Tuesday for firing a shotgun outside a synagogue two months after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, federal prosecutors said. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, of Schenectady, New York, was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots and yelling "Free Palestine!" outside Temple Israel in Albany, New York, just hours before the start of Hanukkah. Alkhader was arrested shortly after the incident and court documents revealed he told police in interviews that "events in the Middle East have impacted him." He was initially charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person because of his unlawful use of marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York. Alkhader was also charged with conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm days after his arrest. Alkhader pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of brandishing a firearm during the commission of this offense, and one count of conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "The defendant's violent, antisemitic, and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence," U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman said in a statement. Alkhader, who has been in federal custody since his arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. He faces at least seven years and up to life in prison, as well as a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to five years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 'We lost them': Palestinians make long trek back to their demolished homes in Gaza Synagogue daycare went into lockdown after shots were fired Prosecutors said Alkhader took an Uber from his home in Schenectady to the synagogue on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2023. He then walked up to the front steps of Temple Israel and removed a shotgun from a duffel bag before firing two shots into the air shouting, "Free Palestine!" according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Alkhader also attempted to remove an Israeli flag from a flagpole outside of the synagogue before walking away from the scene, prosecutors said. At the time of the incident, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said officers arrested Alkhader about three minutes after the shots were fired. He was detained in a parking lot around 300 yards away from the synagogue, according to Hawkins. No one was injured in the incident but a daycare operating inside the synagogue was forced into lockdown. "Alkhader also significantly disrupted activities that the Temple Israel community had planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and made congregants afraid to return to their place of worship," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Alkhader later admitted to authorities that he and another man conspired with each other to illegally purchase a shotgun from a gun shop, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said Andrew Miller — also from Schenectady — and Alkhader drove to a federal firearms dealer in Albany in November 2023, where Miller purchased the shotgun. Miller later gave the shotgun to Alkhader, which was fired outside of Temple Israel. Miller was sentenced in October 2024 to 14 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Increase in violent incidents since Oct. 7 attacks Since Oct. 7, 2023, people across the United States have endured antisemitic epithets, anti-Muslim rhetoric and near-violence in response to the war. Advocacy groups have reported a spike in hate crime incidents, including Islamophobia and antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks antisemitic incidents in the U.S., recorded more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the year after Oct. 7. At the same time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations — the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group — reported that anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian complaints topped 8,000 in 2023, with nearly half of these complaints reported in the final three months of the year. The group also documented nearly 5,000 complaints of discrimination between January and June 2024. The Oct. 7 attacks reignited decades-old hostilities and sparked an Israeli military response that has claimed the lives of more than 46,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities. A ceasefire and hostage release deal was reached last month. The first phase of the deal, which is set to run until early March, includes the release of 33 hostages in return for the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Last week, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians began their journey back to the ruins of the Gaza Strip they once called home. Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Kim Hjelmgaard, Marc Ramirez, and Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY
Washington Post
04-02-2025
- Washington Post
Man pleads guilty to federal charges for firing gun outside Jewish temple in upstate New York
ALBANY, N.Y. — A 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday for firing a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue during the early months of the Israel-Hamas war. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots in the air and shouting 'Free Palestine!' outside Temple Israel of Albany. Alkhader's shotgun jammed before he could fire a third time. The Iraqi-born U.S. citizen was arrested soon after and complained about events in the Middle East , according to federal prosecutors.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man pleads guilty to federal charges for firing gun outside Jewish temple in upstate New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A man pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday for firing a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue during the early months of the Israel-Hamas war. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader was arrested in December 2023 after shots were fired outside Temple Israel of Albany. The Iraqi-born U.S. citizen said 'Free Palestine' when officers arrested him and later told investigators that he felt affected by events in the Middle East, according to police officials and court filings. The gunfire in New York's capital city happened on the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. No one was injured, but children attending preschool sheltered in place while police searched the area. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader, 29, pleaded guilty to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during the commission of that offense and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Federal prosecutors initially charged Alkhader with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person — a charge authorities said was related to his admitted use of marijuana. He was later charged with conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Alkhader was being held in the county jail, according to online records. Alkhader faces at least 7 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced June 6.
The Independent
04-02-2025
- The Independent
Man pleads guilty to federal charges for firing gun outside Jewish temple in upstate New York
A man pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday for firing a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue during the early months of the Israel- Hamas war. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader was arrested in December 2023 after shots were fired outside Temple Israel of Albany. The Iraqi-born U.S. citizen said 'Free Palestine' when officers arrested him and later told investigators that he felt affected by events in the Middle East, according to police officials and court filings. The gunfire in New York's capital city happened on the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. No one was injured, but children attending preschool sheltered in place while police searched the area. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader, 29, pleaded guilty to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during the commission of that offense and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Federal prosecutors initially charged Alkhader with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person — a charge authorities said was related to his admitted use of marijuana. He was later charged with conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Alkhader was being held in the county jail, according to online records. Alkhader faces at least 7 years and up to life in prison when he is sentenced June 6.
