In December, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader decided to whip out a shotgun and open fire at a synagogue in Albany, New York. You can probably guess how the rest of this story goes. The man yelled “Free Palestine” as he committed this attack. Luckily, no one was injured or killed. Alkhader fired two shots, dropped the shotgun, and then tried to flee but was held by a bystander.
Notice how pro-Israel supporters don’t attack mosques. If anything, they’re the ones being harassed and assaulted. In Los Angeles, one pro-Israeli demonstrator, Paul Kessler, 65, was killed when a pro-Palestinian protestor smashed him over the head with a megaphone. The terrorists are running rampant, and it should shock no one as to why Alkhader decided to go to this synagogue.
What happened was domestic terrorism—there’s no other way to cut it. Also, the man finally admitted that the events in the Middle East were his primary motivation. The ‘Free Palestine’ war cry was a dead giveaway, but the Associated Press walked a waffled line here regarding sharing the details of law enforcement’s interview with Alkhader, who waived his right to remain silent when he was arrested last December (via Associated Press):
Albany, New York Temple Israel Synagogue shooter Mufid Fawaz Alkhader's mugshot.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 8, 2023
Alkhader yelled "Free Palestine" as he shot off a shotgun on the premises of Temple Israel and appeared to have torn down an Israeli flag or sign, according to law enforcement.
Children were… https://t.co/gxOPsWR3zp pic.twitter.com/aidIYTsssD
A man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he allegedly fired off a shotgun in the parking area of an Albany, New York, synagogue, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. pic.twitter.com/PFIIWlyQ72
— ABC News (@ABC) December 8, 2023
Federal prosecutors charged Alkhader with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person — a charge authorities said was related to his admitted use of marijuana. He could also face state charges. Hawkins said the episode was being investigated as a possible hate crime.
[…]
Alkhader, who lives in Schenectady, which is near Albany, waived his right to remain silent and spoke with law enforcement officers after his arrest, a task force officer with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said in a court filing.
The officer’s affidavit didn’t detail what Alkhader said about his motivation, but the officer wrote that he offered that “the events in the Middle East have impacted him.”
A person who answered the door at Alkhader’s address in Schenectady and identified himself as his father declined to be interviewed, but said his son was mentally ill.
After a brief appearance in federal court Friday morning, Alkhader was sent back to detention. He entered the court shackled and wearing a green jacket over his orange jail uniform. At times, he seemed to have difficulty following instructions from the judge.
“My English is limited,” he told the judge softly. He said he speaks Arabic.
I forgot this incident occurred on the first night of Hannukah. The affidavit didn’t detail what motivated this man, but “the events in the Middle East have impacted him.” Well, there it is, fellas—why is this so hard to say? You know what he shouted, what events influenced him to fire a shotgun at a Jewish place of worship and on the first night of a widely celebrated Jewish festival. He was slapped with new charges following his initial arrest: “Conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm” (via News10 Albany):
According to those documents, Alkhader told police he wanted to buy a gun but was ineligible because of a prior order of protection or restraining order. He then contacted a friend, identified in the court documents at “Co-Conspirator #1,” who agreed to purchase a shotgun for him. That individual told police they were given $700 cash to buy the gun and paid at least $200 to make the purchase, lying on the ATF forms in the process, which is a federal crime.
According to police, Alkhader then used that shotgun outside Temple Israel in Albany on Dec. 7, leading to a lockdown of the temple, where children were in school, and of Saint Peter’s Hospital next door.
Alkhader also told police the events in the Middle East have impacted him. Police told reporters he was heard saying “Free Palestine” when officers arrested him.
The latest allegation is in addition to an earlier charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, related to his use of marijuana. Possessing a firearm while using marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
With these two charges, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Right now, he is being held in Albany County Jail without bail. The judge called him a flight risk and danger to the community.
Lock him up.
