Toledo synagogue attack plot
The Toledo synagogue attack plot was a plot to attack two synagogues in Toledo, Ohio. A suspect, Damon Joseph, was arrested on December 7, 2018 in Holland, Ohio, and was charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS and arrested a few days prior to Elizabeth Lecron.[1]
Plan
The two synagogues Joseph allegedly planned to attack were Congregation B’nai Israel, (Conservative) and Temple Shomer Emunim, (Reform) Both synagogues are located on the campus of the Jewish Community Center campus in Sylvania, Ohio.[2]
Arrest and legal proceedings
Joseph was arrested on 7 December and charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. The penalty, if convicted, is up to 20 years in prison.[2]
Radicalization
Joseph was radicalized online.[3] He used Abdullah Ali Yusuf as an alternatve name.[4][5]
Criminal history
Investigators began to correspond with Joseph in September 2018, posing as ISIS agents, after images of knives and firearms on his social media accounts drew concern.[6] As one of his social media photos had been originally distributed by the media wing of ISIS.[7][8] He allegedly told undercover agents that he was inspired by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and he admired the shooter,[1] stating that; "My opinion is that Jews are evil and they get what's coming to them."[9]
On December 2, 2018 he sent details of his plan to an undercover agent, to carry out an attack on at least one Toledo synagogue, and added notes of what types of weapons and ammunition to gather, when to attack and how to escape or shoot out with police.[7] On December 7, he met with an undercover agent and took a black duffel bag containing two semiautomatic rifles that had been rendered inoperable by officials, he was then arrested.[10] His connection to ISIS was highlighted in a statement released by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, where he claimed Joseph's actions were allegedly inspired by ISIS's call to violence and hate and that Joseph planned the attack in the name of ISIS.[11]
References
- ^ a b Li, David K. (December 10, 2018). "An alleged ISIS supporter and a woman accused of planning a terror attack arrested in Ohio". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ a b Hedapohl, Jackie (20 December 2018). "Terror Threat Near Toledo". The Detroit Jewish News. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ Snyder, Kate; Lindstrom, Lauren (17 December 2018). "Suspects in Toledo plots found extremist communities online". Toledo Blade. Archived from the original on 2018-12-18. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Federal grand jury indicts Holland man in synagogue terror plot". Toledo Blade. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Ohio man allegedly inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki, Islamic State". Long War Journal. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Morales, Mark (December 10, 2018). "Synagogue, pipeline were targeted by Ohioans arrested in terror plots, officials say". CNN. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Snyder, Kate (December 10, 2018). "Man, woman arrested in Ohio for plotting massacres; one said he admired accused Tree of Life shooter". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ Lindstrom, Lauren; Snyder, Kate (16 December 2018). "Couple accused of plotting attack left trail of breadcrumbs in dark corners of the Internet". Toledo Blade. Archived from the original on 2018-12-17. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ Pegues, Jeff (December 10, 2018). "Feds bust 2 people for separate alleged terror plots in Ohio". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
- ^ Rosenberg, Eli (December 10, 2018). "I can see myself carrying out this operation.' Feds say man was planning synagogue attack for ISIS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
- ^ "Ohio man arrested and charged in federal court after planning an attack on a synagogue in the Toledo area". www.justice.gov. 2018-12-10. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-12-11.