A man who is accused of firing a shotgun outside a New York synagogue and proclaimed “free Palestine” was charged Friday with unlawful possession of a firearm in a case under investigation as a hate crime.
Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, of Schenectady, New York, fired two shots into the air outside Temple Israel of Albany at about 2 p.m. Thursday, the first day of Hanukkah. He was arrested there by Albany police.
“We were told by responding officers that he made a comment, ‘free Palestine,’” said Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins at a Thursday night news conference.
Asked if the incident was being investigated as a hate crime, Chief Hawkins said, “Absolutely.”
“It’s certainly being investigated as a hate crime,” he said, adding that shell casings from the shotgun were found on the synagogue steps.
The suspect waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with police after his arrest, telling them in sum that “he regularly uses marijuana” and that “the events in the Middle East have impacted him,” according to the criminal complaint.
Nobody was hurt in the shooting, but the incident heightened concerns about rising antisemitism at home and abroad in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, which prompted Israel to declare war.
The man was found with a KelTec KS7 12-gauge shotgun; “as an unlawful user of a controlled substance (marijuana), Alkhader was prohibited under federal law from possessing the shotgun,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
The office said the suspect appeared Friday before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, “who ordered Alkhader detained pending trial after Alkhader waived his right to a detention hearing.”
Temple Israel Synagogue shooter Mufid Fawaz Alkhader’s mugshot.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 8, 2023
Children were inside the building.
Once again, we see just how dangerous the “Free Palestine” movement truly is. pic.twitter.com/JGmWpPQXqZ
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the suspect had a “rap sheet” but declined to comment further on his criminal record.
She put the New York State Police and New York National Guard on “high alert,” increasing patrols for what she described as the “at-risk sites we had planned for the Hanukkah holiday, including at synagogues, yeshivas and community centers.”
“This builds on the significant efforts we have taken to protect religious communities in the wake of the October 7 attacks,” said the governor in a statement. “Make no mistake: The safety of Jewish New Yorkers is nonnegotiable.”
The suspect waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with police after his arrest, telling them in sum that “he regularly uses marijuana” and that “the events in the Middle East have impacted him,” according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted, the suspect faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
“In these challenging times, our unwavering spirit shines as a beacon of hope, proving that even in the darkest of moments, our light remains undimmed,” said Temple Israel in a statement. “We are immensely grateful to our Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and civic leaders, whose swift and decisive actions have reinforced the safety and unity of our community.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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