A man who allegedly claimed to support ISIS threatened to kill a New York mayor and police officers at a St. Patrick’s Day parade, ABC News reports.
On Friday, authorities arrested 32-year-old Ridon Kola in connection with the threats, which were aimed at local officials in Yonkers, New York.
Kola allegedly began posting the threats on social media in November 2021, writing in one message “I am going to slaughter you little girls,” as translated to English from Albanian, according to the criminal complaint.
In December 2021, Kola allegedly said he intended to murder Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and police officers, prompting authorities to visit him. Kola allegedly admitted to posting the messages but he asserted they were not serious and that he did not plan to harm anyone.
But Kola allegedly sent additional messages earlier this month, writing that he was going to “burn the world” until he found a particular police officer. He later wrote that he would “crucify” officers and their superiors at the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on McLean Avenue, according to NBC News.
“It will be a horror scene,” Kola allegedly wrote, according to court records.
In January, Kola allegedly posted statements supporting “jihad” and “war against non-Muslims,” including a depiction of a raised index finger known to be used by jihadist groups, including the terrorist organization ISIS, the Justice Department said.
Authorities arrested Kola one day before Yonkers’ parade on Saturday. Prosecutors presented a photo of Kola holding an ax and said his threats violated the law.
“Threatening violence against police or to undermine public safety will not be tolerated, as Kola now stands charged and faces prison time for his threats against our dedicated law enforcement partners tasked with keeping us safe,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
Kola could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted.
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[Feature Photo: Ridon Kola/U.S. Department of Justice]
