Latest news with #MichailChkhikvishvili
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Parents warned following connection to Antioch school shooter and neo-Nazi ‘murder cult' leader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — New court documents reveal a violent online cult may have influenced a deadly school shooting at Antioch High School earlier this year. The 17-year-old shooter, Solomon Henderson, reportedly claimed to act on behalf of a group called the 'Maniac Murder Cult.' 'Today you see someone, it's a young person, he is troubled, and he finds something online; maybe it's on the dark web, and there is some kind of hate speech, or there is something where all of the sudden he is able to relate to that,' said retired FBI Special Agent Scott Augenbaum. 'It doesn't happen all that often, but look what happens when it does.' RELATED: DOJ says leader of neo-Nazi 'murder cult' influenced Antioch school shooter Henderson left an audio message before the shooting, naming 'Commander Butcher' as his inspiration. That name, officials say, belongs to 21-year-old Michail Chkhikvishvili, a Georgian national who federal prosecutors believe is the alleged leader of the online extremist group. 'It's not always going to be on traditional websites like Facebook or X or Instagram; it is going to be hidden from plain sight,' Augenbaum said. 'The unfortunate thing is any high schooler with a computer can access this information really easily.' Chkhikvishvili was extradited to the U.S. and appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday. He faces several charges, including soliciting hate crimes and encouraging acts of mass violence. Investigators say the group promotes a manifesto known as the 'Hater's Handbook' which they believe has inspired real-life killings. 'I was always get asked, 'Why can't law enforcement shut these things down?'' Augenbaum explained. 'Because a lot of them are anonymous. They are hidden to us.' Juvenile court records of Antioch school shooter released When tracking international online comments, Augenbaum said they have to navigate the line between hate speech and threats, saying it takes a direct threat for law enforcement to act. 'You can't monitor people's social media feeds just because they feel a certain way,' Augenbaum said. 'It becomes different when they post online that they are looking to kill U.S. citizens or violently overthrow the U.S. government.' He told News 2 it has been a challenge to keep up with the rapid rise of digital extremism. 'We've always been playing catch up,' Augenbaum said. 'These criminals, these extremists, are hiding their internet connection, which makes it very challenging.' Antioch High School Shooting | Continuing Coverage For parents, Augenbaum has a warning. 'We can't control the bad guys too, but we can control how we react, so these are the things for parents that if you see, your kid has some kind of an anonymous router, which is called a Tor router, that means they are on the dark web,' Augenbaum explained. 'I'm a father of two boys. There is nothing good that is gonna come out of them being on the dark web.' 'Cybercrime, extremist hate speech, we are seeing so much of it on the dark web, and parents make sure that your kids do not know more than you do,' Augenbaum concluded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Newsweek
Man Faces Prosecution in US After FBI Foiled NYC Terror Plot
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national and leader of a violent group, was arraigned Friday in New York after being extradited from Moldova on charges that he was plotting a mass-casualty terrorist attack in Manhattan, according to federal authorities. Newsweek has reached out to Chkhikvishvili's lawyer for comment via email on Saturday. Newsweek filed out an online contact form seeking comment from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday. Why It Matters Last July, Chkhikvishvili, who is the leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, a group that goes by many names and acronyms including MKY, was arrested in Moldova, where he has been held prior to his extradition. He was arrested following the release of a four-count indictment "charging him with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City," a DOJ press release stated. He was extradited to the United States on Thursday, a move praised by U.S. law enforcement officials. What To Know Chkhikvishvili was arraigned in a federal court in Brooklyn on Friday where he pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Samuel Gregory, who requested that his client be placed under psychiatric evaluation, according to the Associated Press. The DOJ has repeatedly said the group that Chkhikvishvili leads "adheres to a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems 'undesirables.'" The 21-year-old is also known as "Commander Butcher." The indictment alleges that Chkhikvishvili was planningto have an associate dress as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to "racial minorities" in New York City as part of a mass-casualty attack planned for New Year's Eve. The plan was intended to create widespread fear and chaos, according to specific instructions Chkhikvishvili reportedly provided to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officer he believed was a recruit. These instructions included manuals on creating lethal poisons and gases, which he allegedly shared with the undercover officer. His arrest followed an alleged attempt to enlist the undercover officer in carrying out violent crimes that were part of a broader scheme to incite terror that included bombings and arson, according to federal prosecutors. His arrest followed an investigation led by the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, a multiagency team of federal, state and local law enforcement officials. If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces serious years-long prison sentences, including a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for solicitation of violent felonies, five years' imprisonment for conspiring to solicit violent felonies, 20 years' imprisonment for distributing information pertaining to the making and use of explosive devices and poison, and five years' imprisonment for transmitting threatening communications. A sign is displayed outside of the J. Edgar Hoover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) building on May 18 in Washington, DC. A sign is displayed outside of the J. Edgar Hoover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) building on May 18 in Washington, People Are Saying Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a May 23 press release: "This case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology. The Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-fueled violence, and we will pursue those who threaten innocent lives wherever they may be." NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in the DOJ's press release: "This defendant allegedly planned to poison Jewish children and carry out mass murder in New York extradition demonstrates the reach and the determination of American law enforcement agencies to track down the most dangerous and depraved of criminals." United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York said in the May 23 press release: "As alleged, the defendant, a white supremacist, recruited others to participate in a violent campaign of hatred against racial minorities and the Jewish community and to engage in the mass killing of children and others in these communities using poison, suicide bombs, firearms, arson fires, and vehicle explosions. Today's extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos, and hate." What Happens Next A status conference in the case is scheduled for June 11.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
DOJ says leader of neo-Nazi ‘murder cult' influenced Antioch school shooter
NEW YORK (AP/WKRN) — The leader of an eastern European neo-Nazi group has been extradited to the United States from Moldova following his arrest last summer for allegedly instructing an undercover federal agent to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities, prosecutors said. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old from the republic of Georgia, was arraigned Friday before a federal judge in Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence. He pleaded not guilty through an attorney, Samuel Gregory, who requested his client receive a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on suicide watch while in custody. Gregory did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Antioch High School Shooting | Continuing Coverage Prosecutors described Chkhikvishvili, who also goes by 'Commander Butcher,' as the leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, an international extremist group that adheres to a 'neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems 'undesirables.'' They said the group's violent solicitations — promoted through Telegram channels and outlined a manifesto called the 'Hater's Handbook' — appear to have inspired multiple real life killings, including a deadly shooting at Antioch High School earlier this year. On Jan. 22, the Metro Nashville Police Department said 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire inside Antioch High, killing 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante and injuring another student before taking his own life. Court filings show the attacker claimed he was doing it on behalf of the group MKY, which is another name for the Maniac Murder Cult. The U.S. Department of Justice said the Antioch gunman mentioned 'Commander Butcher' by name in the audio recording left before the shooting. Juvenile court records of Antioch school shooter released Since 2022, Chkhikvishvili has traveled on multiple occasions to Brooklyn, where he bragged about beating up an elderly Jewish man and instructed others, primarily through text messages, to commit violent acts on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult, according to court papers. When he was approached by an undercover FBI agent in 2023, Chkhikvishvili recruited the official to a scheme that 'involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn,' according to the DOJ. He later suggested narrowing the focus to 'dead Jewish kids,' prosecutors said, after noting that 'Jews are literally everywhere' in Brooklyn. Describing his desire to carry out a mass casualty attack, Chkhikvishvili said he saw the United States as 'big potential because accessibility to firearms,' adding that the undercover should consider targeting homeless people because the government wouldn't care 'even if they die,' according to court papers. ⏩ He was arrested last July in Moldova, where he was held prior to this week's extradition. In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the case was 'a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- CTV News
Leader of neo-Nazi 'murder cult' extradited to the U.S. from Moldova
NEW YORK — WARNING: This story contains disturbing content The leader of an eastern European neo-Nazi group has been extradited to the United States from Moldova following his arrest last summer for allegedly instructing an undercover federal agent to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities, prosecutors said. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old from the republic of Georgia, was arraigned Friday before a federal judge in Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence. He pleaded not guilty through an attorney, Samuel Gregory, who requested his client receive a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on suicide watch while in custody. Gregory did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Prosecutors described Chkhikvishvili, who also goes by 'Commander Butcher,' as the leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, an international extremist group that adheres to a 'neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems 'undesirables.'' They said the group's violent solicitations — promoted through Telegram channels and outlined a manifesto called the 'Hater's Handbook' — appear to have inspired multiple real life killings, including a school shooting in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this year that left a 16-year-old student dead. Since 2022, Chkhikvishvili has traveled on multiple occasions to Brooklyn, where he bragged about beating up an elderly Jewish man and instructed others, primarily through text messages, to commit violent acts on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult, according to court papers. When he was approached by an undercover FBI agent in 2023, Chkhikvishvili recruited the official to a scheme that 'involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn,' according to the Justice Department. He later suggested narrowing the focus to 'dead Jewish kids,' prosecutors said, after noting that 'Jews are literally everywhere' in Brooklyn. Describing his desire to carry out a mass casualty attack, Chkhikvishvili said he saw the United States as 'big potential because accessibility to firearms,' adding that the undercover should consider targeting homeless people because the government wouldn't care 'even if they die,' according to court papers. He was arrested last July in Moldova, where he was held prior to this week's extradition. In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the case was 'a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology.' Jake Offenhartz, The Associated Press
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Head of international neo-Nazi group that inspired Antioch school shooter extradited to US
The teen who fatally shot a fellow student and himself at Antioch High School this year was inspired by an international neo-Nazi group whose leader orchestrated deadly attacks around the globe, according to federal prosecutors. The terrorist group's leader, 21-year-old Michail Chkhikvishvili, of the nation of Georgia, was extradited from Moldova on May 22 after he was arrested in July. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Brooklyn on May 23, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ says the man was the leader of a group called MKY. Chkhikvishvili targeted the U.S. as a site for more attacks because of the ease of accessing firearms. He told an undercover law enforcement employee, 'I see USA as big potential because accessibility to firearms and other resources,' in an electronic message sent Sept. 8, 2023, court filings show. Chkhikvishvili has been indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on four counts including solicitation of violent felonies. The charges stemmed from Chkhikvishvili's communications with an undercover law enforcement employee in which he trained and encouraged the undercover agent to carry out a mass attack against Jewish people and minorities. The man's arrest came before the deadly attack at Antioch High School on Jan. 22, 2025. However, prosecutors in the New York federal court linked the Antioch shooting to Chkhikvishvili's solicitations of violence in a court filing on May 23. Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York wrote to the judge requesting the man be incarcerated before trial. They pointed to several ways his actions have 'directly resulted in real violence,' including the shooting at Antioch High School. According to the prosecutors, the 17-year-old attacker claimed he was taking action on behalf of MKY and at least one other group in an audio recording posted online before the shooting. It is not clear if the shooter was a member of MKY or had contact with Chkhikvishvili or other members of the terrorist organization. Chkhikvishvili said the group asks for video of brutal beatings, arson, explosions or murders to join the group, adding that the victims should be 'low race targets.' Chkhikvishvili's name also appeared in the document the DOJ characterizes as the Antioch shooter's manifesto — a 300-page document in which the shooter espoused misanthropic White supremacist and Nazi ideologies. The shooter also referred to the founder of MKY and said he would write the founder's name on his gun, according to prosecutors. Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, died after the 17-year-old shot her with a pistol in the cafeteria of Antioch High School. Another student was injured during the attack. The shooter then shot and killed himself. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Neo Nazis inspired Antioch shooter. Now US has extradited their leader
