Photo: Michael M. Santiago/GettyAn arrest in New York may have halted an act of terrorism against the city’s Jewish community.NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement that after their FBI joint counterterrorism task force “uncovered a developing threat to the Jewish community” on Friday, Christopher Brown, 21, of Suffolk County was arrested Saturday at Penn Station.She credited “sharp-eyed” MTA police officers for spotting Brown entering the train station with another man — identified as 22-year-old Matthew Mahrer of Manhattan — after aphoto was issued with an intelligence alert, according to ABC News.Brown, who police say was found with a large hunting knife, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. Additionally, an illegal Glock 17 firearm, a 30-round magazine and several other items were discovered at Brown’s apartment, ABC News reported.According to ABC News, police said Brown previously “made recent threats to unknown Jewish Synagogues in the New York Area.“Mahrer was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, according to an NYPD spokesperson.“Today, we’re extremely grateful to NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners whouncovered and stopped a threat to our Jewish community,” Commissioner Sewell said in another statement shared on Twitter. “This morning’s arrests in Penn Station and weapon seizures are proof of their vigilance & collaboration that keeps New Yorkers safe.“Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.An investigation into Brown is ongoing “to establish a strong prosecution,” Sewell said in her prior statement. ABC News reported that prosecutors are considering additional charges.After the FBI warned of a “broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey in a statement on Twitter earlier this month, they announced the next day that they discovered the source of the threat, and he “no longer poses a danger to the community.“Omar Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville has sincebeen arrested and chargedwith one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce, according to CNN. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 28: People prepare to enter Penn Station ahead of the Memorial Day weekend in Midtown Manhattan on May 28, 2021 in New York City. Travel for Memorial Day which has become the unofficial start of summer is expected to increase 60% this year as more restrictions due to COVID-19 are being lifted. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

An arrest in New York may have halted an act of terrorism against the city’s Jewish community.NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement that after their FBI joint counterterrorism task force “uncovered a developing threat to the Jewish community” on Friday, Christopher Brown, 21, of Suffolk County was arrested Saturday at Penn Station.She credited “sharp-eyed” MTA police officers for spotting Brown entering the train station with another man — identified as 22-year-old Matthew Mahrer of Manhattan — after aphoto was issued with an intelligence alert, according to ABC News.Brown, who police say was found with a large hunting knife, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. Additionally, an illegal Glock 17 firearm, a 30-round magazine and several other items were discovered at Brown’s apartment, ABC News reported.According to ABC News, police said Brown previously “made recent threats to unknown Jewish Synagogues in the New York Area.“Mahrer was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, according to an NYPD spokesperson.“Today, we’re extremely grateful to NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners whouncovered and stopped a threat to our Jewish community,” Commissioner Sewell said in another statement shared on Twitter. “This morning’s arrests in Penn Station and weapon seizures are proof of their vigilance & collaboration that keeps New Yorkers safe.“Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.An investigation into Brown is ongoing “to establish a strong prosecution,” Sewell said in her prior statement. ABC News reported that prosecutors are considering additional charges.After the FBI warned of a “broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey in a statement on Twitter earlier this month, they announced the next day that they discovered the source of the threat, and he “no longer poses a danger to the community.“Omar Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville has sincebeen arrested and chargedwith one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce, according to CNN. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

An arrest in New York may have halted an act of terrorism against the city’s Jewish community.

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said in a statement that after their FBI joint counterterrorism task force “uncovered a developing threat to the Jewish community” on Friday, Christopher Brown, 21, of Suffolk County was arrested Saturday at Penn Station.

She credited “sharp-eyed” MTA police officers for spotting Brown entering the train station with another man — identified as 22-year-old Matthew Mahrer of Manhattan — after aphoto was issued with an intelligence alert, according to ABC News.

Brown, who police say was found with a large hunting knife, has been charged with making a terroristic threat, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. Additionally, an illegal Glock 17 firearm, a 30-round magazine and several other items were discovered at Brown’s apartment, ABC News reported.

According to ABC News, police said Brown previously “made recent threats to unknown Jewish Synagogues in the New York Area.”

Mahrer was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

“Today, we’re extremely grateful to NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners whouncovered and stopped a threat to our Jewish community,” Commissioner Sewell said in another statement shared on Twitter. “This morning’s arrests in Penn Station and weapon seizures are proof of their vigilance & collaboration that keeps New Yorkers safe.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

An investigation into Brown is ongoing “to establish a strong prosecution,” Sewell said in her prior statement. ABC News reported that prosecutors are considering additional charges.

After the FBI warned of a “broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey in a statement on Twitter earlier this month, they announced the next day that they discovered the source of the threat, and he “no longer poses a danger to the community.”

Omar Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville has sincebeen arrested and chargedwith one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce, according to CNN. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

source: people.com