FBI agents. Photo: Wiki Commons.

A teenager whom the Department of Justice charged with communicating a threat to attack synagogues in New Jersey has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year.

19 year old Omar Alkattoul of Sayreville, New Jersey was arrested in November after posting and sending a manifesto about attacking Jews and synagogues, which caused FBI Newark to issue a state-wide alert warning the Jewish community of an imminent threat.

In the manifesto, which Alkattoul titled “When Swords Collide,” he wrote, “Good jews do not exist unless if [sic] they convert to Islam” and discussed the attack in the past tense, i.e., as if it had already taken place.

During questioning by the FBI, Alkattoul claimed that his issuing the manifesto was “live action role playing.” His sentencing will take place on Nov. 14, and he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“This defendant admitted using social media to send a manifesto containing a threat to attack a synagogue based on his hatred of Jews. This prompted a state-wide alert and put the community on edge,” US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a statement on Wednesday. “Alkattoul will now face sentencing for his crime, and we intend to seek a sentence that will hold him accountable. No one should be targeted for violence or with acts of hate because of how they worship. Protecting our communities of faith and places of worship is at the heart of this office’s mission.”

“I am a Muslim with so many regrets but I can assure you this attack is not one of them and Insha’Allah many more attacks like these against the enemy of Allah and the pigs and monkeys will come,” Alkattoul wrote. “I will discuss my motives in a bit but I did target a synagogue for a really good reason according to myself and a lot of Muslims who have a brain.”

“The laws of our nation allow for everyone to express themselves,” FBI Newark special agent James E. Dennehy said. “However, when that expression turns into a specific threat towards others, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies must take action. We allege Alkattoul posted and planned to carry out his online manifesto targeting synagogues in our communities and specifically stated it was an intended attack on Jews. I want to commend the incredibly quick response by the Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force and our partners. Crime driven by hate has no place in our society.”

Alkattoul’s plea comes amid an unprecedented rise of antisemitic hate and activity across the US. In 2022, the ADL recorded 3,697 such incidents — ten per day — the highest ever since the group began track them in 1979. Incidents of harassment, vandalism, and assault all spiked by double digits and occurred most frequently in New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas, which accounted for 54 percent of the ADL’s data. New York had the most, with 580 incidents. One incident resulted in a fatality.

Acts of hate targeting Jewish institutions and synagogue also occurred at high rates, with 589 incidents, including a hostage situation at synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and 91 bomb threats, the most recorded since 2017.

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.