>
BREAKING: NYPD arrests two armed suspects at Penn Station for threatening synagogues in New York area and seizing hunting knife and gun
- Two gunmen were arrested Saturday at Penn Station when police discovered and stopped a threat against the city’s Jewish community
- Officials said Christopher Brown, 21, of Aquebogue, New York, had made recent threats to synagogues in the city
- Reports indicated that he had traveled to the city to purchase a firearm
- NYPD commanders increased security around the Big Apple’s Jewish communities following the arrest
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
The NYPD arrested two people and seized guns at Penn Station when police discovered and stopped a threat against the city’s Jewish community on Saturday.
One of the two men arrested was identified as Christopher Brown, 21, of Aquebogue, New York, a man with a history of mental illness who recently threatened synagogues in the city.
The other was identified as Matthew Mahrer, 22, of Manhattan, the son of a former Chelsea CTE High School teacher.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement that the threat Brown and another individual posed to the Jewish community was discovered Friday by state and federal law enforcement.
Early Saturday, the NYPD’s extensive intelligence gathering led to the sharp-eyed MTA police arrest of two individuals entering Penn Station in Manhattan, and the seizure of a large hunting knife, an illegal Glock 17 firearm, and 30 round magazine and several other articles,” Sewell said.
A warning went out Friday for Christopher Brown, 22, a man with a history of mental illness who recently threatened synagogues in the New York area. Brown and Matthew Mahrer, 22, were arrested Saturday at Penn Station and had their weapons seized
It is currently unknown if Brown met with Mahrer (above) to purchase the gun from the New York City resident
The men were spotted entering the station by sharp-eyed MTA employees. Officials said Brown entered the city for the purpose of purchasing a firearm
According to federal and local law enforcement reports, Brown had wanted to travel to the Big Apple to purchase a firearm.
It is currently unknown if he had met Mahrer to purchase the gun from him.
Brown was charged with making a terrorist threat, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of weapons. Mahrer was only charged with criminal possession of weapons.
Sewell said police commanders have deployed strategic “resources to sensitive locations in New York City” to increase security around Jewish communities.
“I join all New Yorkers today in expressing my gratitude and pride for the ever-vigilant work of our NYPD women and men – who remain on their guard around the clock and every day to protect the peace and to ensure that violence never occurs. to the city and its people,” Sewell added.
The city has reported 551 hate crimes so far this year, up 16 percent from the same time in 2021.
Overall crime in the Big Apple is up 29.1 percent from last year
Along with an increase in hate crimes, the Big Apple has seen an increase in violent crime.
According to the NYPD, overall crime in New York City is up 29.1 percent from last year, with felonies, rapes and robberies all increasing in double digits. The number of murders fell by 14.8 percent and the number of shootings by 12.5 percent.
Crimes are also up by nearly 14 percent, with police recording 22,319 cases so far this year, and rapes are up nearly 11 percent.
The number of homicides and shooting victims fell by 14.4 and 13.6 percent, respectively.
The city’s transportation system looks set to bear the brunt of rising crime, with about 1,865 reported so far in 2022, a 41.7 percent spike from last year.
This is an evolving story.