Court filings allege that on Sunday, the mastermind of the plot to assault New York City synagogues revealed to police that he operates an online white supremacist group and had Nazi artifacts because “it is extremely cool.”
Christopher Brown, 21, who tweeted anti-Semitic threats under the username VrillKhan and the handle @VrillGod, said police he and alleged accomplice Matthew Mahrer gathered outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on Friday to carry out the attacks before being apprehended.
In Pennsylvania, the two reportedly acquired a Glock 9mm handgun for $650.
Brown reportedly told officers, “I have a sick personality,” according to a criminal complaint.
He allegedly told police, “I was going to be a coward and blow my brains out with that.” “It took me three years to purchase the firearm. Matt is a follower of mine. I have Nazy memorabilia at my home. I find it to be quite cool.
“I also operate a white nationalist Twitter group,” he was quoted as adding in the accusation.
The NYPD received a series of threatening tweets from Brown beginning on November 12 with the remark, “Big movements on Friday.”
Four days later, Brown allegedly uploaded a 6-second video containing a disturbing message: “Brutally murder individuals with hatchets and other implements. How it feels to kill someone.
Thursday, he allegedly stated, “Gonna ask a Priest if I should become a husband or shoot up a synagogue and die.”
Friday, he added, “This time I’m really going to do it,” according to police.
The gun and bulletproof vest were recovered from Maher’s Upper West Side apartment after the arrest of the conspirators.
In addition to other items, “the two defendants possessed a firearm, a high-capacity magazine, ammunition, a military-style knife measuring [8 inches] in length, a swastika arm patch, a ski mask, and a bulletproof vest,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
“The vicious anti-Semitic targeting of synagogues is abhorrent,” said Bragg. “The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office will now pursue accountability and justice in this case with the full resources of our counter-terrorism problem unit and our recently augmented and expanded hate crimes unit.”
According to court documents, Brown was arraigned early on Sunday and charged with making a terroristic threat and six counts of weapon possession. He was detained without bond.
Maher, 22 years old, was arraigned on weapons possession charges on Saturday and ordered held on $150,000 bail or a $300,000 bond despite a request from the Manhattan district attorney’s office that he be held without bail.