Man in Ohio charged with making threats against mosque
Tweet
Share
E-mailBy Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) - A man in northeastern Ohio was charged with making threats against a mosque and unlawfully possessing firearms while using controlled substances, federal court records showed.
Wyatt James Brzoska, 20, allegedly made a series of TikTok posts that referenced mass shootings and extremist symbols, including the "black sun," a neo-Nazi symbol, according to a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
U.S. rights advocates have warned about rising Islamophobia and antisemitism in recent years due to a spike in anti-immigration sentiment and white supremacist rhetoric, as well as the fallout of Israel's war in Gaza after a 2023 Hamas attack.
The charges were reported earlier on Wednesday by an NBC affiliate. Brzoska's representative could not immediately be reached for comment.
The FBI first received a tip about Brzoska in mid-November. At the time, Brzoska said "the threats were a joke," the complaint said.
In late November, Brzoska posted a video with references to the 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand mosque shootings carried out by a white supremacist that killed 51 people, the complaint said. The FBI again interviewed him and he admitted to owning an AR15 rifle, two shotguns, and a Springfield bolt-action rifle, according to the complaint.
According to the complaint, on March 10 he posted a video where he pointed the camera to a mosque in Ohio, with text that stated: "You will feel it."
Brzoska faces federal charges for interstate threats and unlawful possession of firearms while using a controlled substance. The complaint said Brzoska's posts showed his desire to emulate Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch shooter.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- US says it struck 140 Iranian military targets Saturday
- Iran's IRGC navy says Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice, state media reports
- Ford, Canada's Unifor reach tentative deal on labor contract
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
