A 29-year-old man pleaded accountable to federal bills Tuesday for firing a shotgun exterior an upstate New York synagogue in the midst of the early months of the Israel-Hamas battle.
Mufid Fawaz Alkhader was arrested in December 2023 after firing two photos throughout the air and shouting “Free Palestine!” exterior Temple Israel of Albany. Alkhader’s shotgun jammed sooner than he could fireplace a third time. The Iraqi-born U.S. citizen was arrested shortly after and complained about events throughout the Middle East, according to federal prosecutors.
The gunfire in New York’s capital metropolis occurred on the first night of Hanukkah and two months after the shock incursion by Hamas triggered the battle. No one was injured, nevertheless 61 children attending preschool sheltered in place whereas police searched the realm. Prosecutors talked about Alkhader took a ride-share automobile to the temple from his dwelling in shut by Schenectady.
Beneath a address prosecutors, Alkhader pleaded accountable to obstructing the free practice of religious beliefs by menace of energy, brandishing a firearm in the midst of the price of that offense and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully.
“The defendant’s violent, antisemitic and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence,” U.S. Authorized skilled Carla Freedman talked about in a prepared assertion.
Alkhader, sporting orange jail clothes, talked about little in courtroom docket previous coming into his pleas and responding to a set of questions from the resolve with “yes” or “no” options.
Federal prosecutors initially charged Alkhader with possession of a firearm by a prohibited particular person — a value authorities talked about was related to his admitted use of marijuana. He was later charged with conspiracy to make a false assertion in the midst of the purchase of a firearm.
One different man was sentenced in October to 14 months in jail for making a “straw” purchase of the shotgun for Alkhader.
Alkhader, who’s being held throughout the county jail, faces at least 7 years and as a lot as life in jail when he is sentenced June 6.
A gaggle of people from the temple attended the courtroom docket persevering with and declined to comment as they left.
