Omar Alkattoul, Transferring Threats, New Jersey 2022

Omar Alkattoul, an 18-year-old man from Sayreville, New Jersey, was arrested this morning and charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce on or about Nov. 1, 2022. The charge stems from a manifesto Alkattoul allegedly posted on social media, which contained threats to attack a synagogue and Jewish people.

According to the complaint, Alkattoul used social media to send a manifesto containing a threat to attack a synagogue based on his hatred of Jews. The document, titled ‘When Swords Collide,’ included a statement from Alkattoul admitting to writing the document and stating that the attack was not one of his regrets.

‘No one should be targeted for violence or with acts of hate because of how they worship,’ said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. ‘Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we acted swiftly to respond to the alleged threat. There is nothing the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes more seriously than threats to our communities of faith and places of worship.’

Alkattoul is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Sayreville Police Department, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The document ‘When Swords Collide’ included a detailed explanation of Alkattoul’s motives for the attack, which included a statement that the Jews promote hatred against Muslims in the West. Alkattoul also stated that he targeted a synagogue because he believed that Jews support terror against Muslims.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes threats to communities of faith and places of worship very seriously and will devote whatever resources are necessary to keep our Jewish community and all New Jersey residents safe. If convicted, Alkattoul faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy commended the resources from the District of New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Sayreville Police Department, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance in identifying and mitigating the threat.

Defendant: Omar Alkattoul

Criminal Charge: Transferring Threats in Interstate and Foreign Commerce

City and State: Newark, New Jersey

Date of Offense: November 1, 2022

Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending

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