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Today's Paper | May 07, 2024

Published 18 Nov, 2015 09:34am

US man arrested for threatening to firebomb, shoot people at Florida Islamic centre

MIAMI: The FBI on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly made a threat against a Florida Islamic centre because he was angry about the Paris attacks, authorities said.

Shortly after learning of the attacks in the French capital that left at least 129 people dead, Martin Alan Schnitzler left a message late Friday with the Islamic Society of Pinellas County, according to the criminal complaint against him.

The Islamic State extremist group has claimed responsibility for the Paris carnage.

In his message, Schnitzler said his call was made in light of what happened in France, warning that he was “going to personally have a militia that is going to come down to your Islamic Society of Pinellas County, firebomb you, and shoot whoever is there".

Police had no trouble finding Schnitzler via the cell phone he used to place the call.

In questioning over the weekend, Schnitzler said he was “very mad” about the terror attacks and had searched on the Internet for Islam and Pinellas county.

A search of his home, however, turned up no evidence of any dangerous materials, the court document said.

Still, he faces up to 10 years in jail on the threat by telephone charge, if convicted.

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