Latest news with #Alkhader
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
N.Y. man who fired shotgun in front of synagogue in 2023 gets 10 yrs
A New York man is sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for firing a shotgun in front of an Albany synagogue in December of 2023. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A New York man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for firing a shotgun outside of an Albany synagogue and yelling "free Palestine" before the start of Hanukkah in 2023. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, of Schenectady, N.Y., was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on Tuesday, months after he pleaded guilty to civil rights and firearms charges in February. "The Department of Justice stands firmly against anti-Semitism and all hate crimes," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. The incident occurred Dec. 7, 2023, outside Albany's Temple Israel, mere hours before the start of Hanukkah later that evening. Prosecutors said Alkhader took an Uber from his home to the synagogue, where at about 2 p.m. EDT he walked to the entrance of Temple Israel, pulled out the Kel-Tec KS7 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and fired two shots while yelling "free Palestine." On attempting to fire a third round, the shotgun jammed on Alkhader, who then attempted to rip an Israeli flag from a flagpole in front of the synagogue. Alkhader was then arrested by Albany police near a nearby hospital. The incident prompted the synagogue to cancel a concert and celebratory candle-lighting ceremony that night for Hanukkah, according to the Justice Department, which said the shooting made congregants afraid to return to their place of worship. "Mr. Alkhader's violent actions were fueled by hatred for individuals simply because of their faith," Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office said. "That hatred caused tremendous terror within the Temple Israel community -- and the Jewish community as a whole -- as they were preparing for the first night of Hanukkah." Andrew Miller, the man who sold Alkhader the weapon on Nov. 5, received 14 months' imprisonment in October followed by three years supervised release. The shooting happened amid a spike in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents in the United States during the first few months of Israel's war in Gaza. According to FBI statistics for 2023, there were 1,832 anti-Jewish bias crimes in the United States as well as 236 involving anti-Muslim sentiment.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Man who fired a shotgun outside a New York synagogue sentenced to 10 years in prison
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A man who fired a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue with dozens of children inside shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Mufid Alkhader, 29, was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots in the air and shouting 'Free Palestine!' outside Temple Israel of Albany. No one was injured, but the incident terrified many of the 61 children attending preschool and the adult staffers who had to shelter in place. 'My daughter was in Hebrew class with her teacher, whose own child was on the other side of the building,' Rachel Mandel told the court. 'Her amazing teacher held, hid and comforted my child. She prepared herself and the children in her care to die as victims of hate.' Advertisement 3 Mufid Alkhader, who fired a shotgun outside a New York synagogue, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by federal court Friday. AP The shots were fired hours before the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. Federal prosecutors say Alkhader, whose gun jammed after the second shot, complained about events in the Middle East after his arrest. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader in February 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. Advertisement 3 Mufid Alkhader was arrested in December 2013 for the shooting. Alkhader, wearing an orange jail shirt, told the court Tuesday he felt terrible about what he did and for scaring people. 'I know I was not in my right mind,' Alkhader said, asking for forgiveness. Alkhader's public defender had argued for a more lenient sentence, citing his client's severe mental illness. Advertisement 3 While no one was injured at the Temple Israel of Albany, the incident terrified many of the 61 children attending preschool and the adult staffers who had to shelter in place Google Maps But Judge Anne Nardacci sided with prosecutors, who said Alkhader should face 10 years in prison after traumatizing the children and adults in the synagogue. Prosecutor Richard Belliss said Alkhader wanted to scare the people in the building, 'and scare them he did.' Advertisement Alkhader was born in a Palestinian refugee community near Baghdad and his family came to the U.S. as refugees in 2012, when he was 16. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years later and lived in nearby Schenectady at the time of the shooting. Another man was sentenced last fall to 14 months in prison for making a 'straw' purchase of the shotgun for Alkhader.
4 days ago
- Politics
Man who fired a shotgun outside a New York synagogue gets 10 years in prison
ALBANY, N.Y. -- A man who fired a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue with dozens of children inside shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Mufid Alkhader, 29, was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots in the air and shouting 'Free Palestine!' outside Temple Israel of Albany. No one was injured, but the incident terrified many of the 61 children attending preschool and the adult staffers who had to shelter in place. 'My daughter was in Hebrew class with her teacher, whose own child was on the other side of the building,' Rachel Mandel told the court. 'Her amazing teacher held, hid and comforted my child. She prepared herself and the children in her care to die as victims of hate.' The shots were fired hours before the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. Federal prosecutors say Alkhader, whose gun jammed after the second shot, complained about events in the Middle East after his arrest. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader in February 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. Alkhader, wearing an orange jail shirt, told the court Tuesday he felt terrible about what he did and for scaring people. 'I know I was not in my right mind,' Alkhader said, asking for forgiveness. Alkhader's public defender had argued for a more lenient sentence, citing his client's severe mental illness. But Judge Anne Nardacci sided with prosecutors, who said Alkhader should face 10 years in prison after traumatizing the children and adults in the synagogue. Prosecutor Richard Belliss said Alkhader wanted to scare the people in the building, 'and scare them he did.' Alkhader was born in a Palestinian refugee community near Baghdad and his family came to the U.S. as refugees in 2012, when he was 16. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years later and lived in nearby Schenectady at the time of the shooting. Another man was sentenced last fall to 14 months in prison for making a 'straw' purchase of the shotgun for Alkhader.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Man who fired shotgun outside New York synagogue gets 10 years in prison
Albany, Aug 12 (AP) A man who fired a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue with dozens of children inside shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Mufid Alkhader, 29, was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots in the air and shouting 'Free Palestine!" outside Temple Israel of Albany. No one was injured, but the incident terrified many of the 61 children attending preschool and the adult staffers who had to shelter in place. 'My daughter was in Hebrew class with her teacher, whose own child was on the other side of the building," Rachel Mandel told the court. 'Her amazing teacher held, hid and comforted my child. She prepared herself and the children in her care to die as victims of hate." The shots were fired hours before the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. Federal prosecutors say Alkhader, whose gun jammed after the second shot, complained about events in the Middle East after his arrest. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader in February pleaded guilty to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during the commission of that offence and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Alkhader, wearing an orange jail shirt, told the court Tuesday he felt terrible about what he did and for scaring people. 'I know I was not in my right mind," Alkhader said, asking for forgiveness. Alkhader's public defender had argued for a more lenient sentence, citing his client's severe mental illness. But Judge Anne Nardacci sided with prosecutors, who said Alkhader should face 10 years in prison after traumatising the children and adults in the synagogue. Prosecutor Richard Belliss said Alkhader wanted to scare the people in the building, 'and scare them he did." Alkhader was born in a Palestinian refugee community near Baghdad and his family came to the US as refugees in 2012, when he was 16. He became a naturalised US citizen two years later and lived in nearby Schenectady at the time of the shooting. Another man was sentenced last fall to 14 months in prison for making a 'straw" purchase of the shotgun for Alkhader. (AP) GSP view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 23:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man who fired a shotgun outside a New York synagogue gets 10 years in prison
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A man who fired a shotgun outside an upstate New York synagogue with dozens of children inside shortly after the start of the Israel-Hamas war was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Mufid Alkhader, 29, was arrested in December 2023 after firing two shots in the air and shouting 'Free Palestine!' outside Temple Israel of Albany. No one was injured, but the incident terrified many of the 61 children attending preschool and the adult staffers who had to shelter in place. 'My daughter was in Hebrew class with her teacher, whose own child was on the other side of the building,' Rachel Mandel told the court. 'Her amazing teacher held, hid and comforted my child. She prepared herself and the children in her care to die as victims of hate.' The shots were fired hours before the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the surprise incursion by Hamas triggered the war. Federal prosecutors say Alkhader, whose gun jammed after the second shot, complained about events in the Middle East after his arrest. Under a deal with prosecutors, Alkhader in February 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. Alkhader, wearing an orange jail shirt, told the court Tuesday he felt terrible about what he did and for scaring people. 'I know I was not in my right mind,' Alkhader said, asking for forgiveness. Alkhader's public defender had argued for a more lenient sentence, citing his client's severe mental illness. But Judge Anne Nardacci sided with prosecutors, who said Alkhader should face 10 years in prison after traumatizing the children and adults in the synagogue. Prosecutor Richard Belliss said Alkhader wanted to scare the people in the building, 'and scare them he did.' Alkhader was born in a Palestinian refugee community near Baghdad and his family came to the U.S. as refugees in 2012, when he was 16. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years later and lived in nearby Schenectady at the time of the shooting. Another man was sentenced last fall to 14 months in prison for making a 'straw' purchase of the shotgun for Alkhader.
