A far-right extremist wanted to poison Jewish children in New York
In the USA, law enforcement agencies have uncovered a particularly malicious plan of a radical neo-Nazi group. A person disguised as Santa Claus was supposed to distribute poisoned candies to Jewish children, according to the authorities. A 21-year-old Georgian, Michail Chkhikvishvili, is charged with this plot, as stated in a declaration from the US Justice Department.
Chkhikvishvili is accused of inciting hate crimes and mass violence in four counts, according to the declaration. He allegedly planned to distribute poisoned candies to Jewish children in New York City to spread fear and panic. Chkhikvishvili, who goes by the nickname Commander Butcher, is reportedly the leader of the Maniacs Murder Cult. This international extremist group is tied to a neo-Nazi ideology and incites violence against minorities, specifically targeting the Jewish community and other groups they deem "undesirable."
The group's goal is to disrupt social order and governments through terrorism and violence, spreading fear and chaos, the declaration states. Chkhikvishvili was arrested after attempting to recruit a undercover FBI agent to join his group and commit violent crimes, such as bombings and arsons, according to court documents.
Detailed Murder Plans
According to the indictment, Chkhikvishvili's plan involved "a person dressing up as Santa Claus and distributing poisoned candies to minorities and children in Jewish schools in Brooklyn." This was reportedly planned for New Year's Eve 2023. Chkhikvishvili "drafted step-by-step instructions for carrying out the plan" and shared "detailed manuals for the production and mixing of lethal poisons and gases" with the undercover officer, according to the Justice Department's declaration.
The indictment alleges that Chkhikvishvili requested the undercover agent to produce Ricin, a deadly poison. When New Year's Eve passed without an attack, Chkhikvishvili changed his strategy and focused instead on poisoning children on any Jewish holiday, according to the indictment.
According to the prosecution, Chkhikvishvili has been distributing a manifesto titled "Hater's Handbook" since September 2021. In this manifesto, he claims to have "murdered for the white race" and encourages others to do the same. The handbook reportedly encourages readers to "carry out shooting rampages in schools and to use children for suicide bombings and other mass killings against racial minorities."
In the document, methods and strategies for mass "terror attacks" are described, including the use of vehicles to target "large festivals, conferences, celebrations, and parades in the open air" and "crowded streets filled with pedestrians." He explicitly encourages attacks within the United States.
Long Prison Sentence Possible
Chkhikvishvili traveled to New York City at least twice in 2022 and lived with his paternal grandmother in Brooklyn, according to the authorities. He was eventually arrested on July 6, 2022, in Moldova on an Interpol arrest warrant.
In case of a conviction, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for instigating violent crimes. Five years could be imposed for the conspiracy to instigate violent crimes, 20 years for the dissemination of information on the manufacturing and use of explosives, and five years for the transmission of threats.
The United States Justice Department has revealed that Michail Chkhikvishvili, a neo-Nazi leader, was charged by Interpol for his involvement in a hate crime plot against the Jewish community in the United States. In addition, the Maniacs Murder Cult, an international extremist group linked to right-wing extremism, is under investigation by law enforcement agencies for promoting processes that incite violence against minorities.
