CAIR Asks Feds to Charge Men Accused in Bomb Plot Targeting New York Muslim Community

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on federal law enforcement authorities to bring charges against three men and a teenager accused of plotting to bomb a Muslim community in that state.

According to court filings, three Rochester-area men and a 16-year-old boy intended to attack the Islamberg Muslim community in Delaware County, N.Y.

Andrew Crysel, 18, Vincent Vetromile, 19, and Brian Colaneri, 20, were charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree and conspiracy. Investigators say they possessed explosive devices and planned to attack the Muslim community of Islamberg in Hancock, N.Y. The devices were described as a large cylinder wrapped in duct tape, a medium cylinder wrapped in duct tape and a mason jar wrapped in duct tape. All the men are held on $50,000 bail or $100,000 bond.

SEE: Four charged in plot to attack Muslim community in NY using IEDs
https://13wham.com/news/local/three-men-charged-with-having-ieds-plotting-to-attack-muslim-community 
3 arrested in Upstate NY with bombs, plot to attack Muslims: report
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/01/3-arrested-in-upstate-ny-with-bombs-plot-to-attack-muslims-report.html 
Police arrest three in plot to attack Muslim community near Binghamton
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/01/22/muslim-community-islamberg-attack-colaneri-crysel-vetromile-rochester-greece-delaware-county/2643689002/

In 2017, a Tennessee man was sentenced for plotting to attack the same community.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Guilty Verdict for Tenn. Man Who Planned Attack on NY Muslims
https://www.cair.com/cair_welcomes_guilty_verdict_for_tenn_man_who_planned_attack_on_ny_muslims 

"Anyone accused of plotting an act of violence targeting a religious minority should face state and federal hate crime and civil rights charges commensurate with the seriousness of their alleged actions," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. "The low bail set in this case seems indicate that the potentially-deadly plot is not viewed as a serious offense."  

"Instead of promoting and exploiting Islamophobia, which inevitably results in these types of incidents, our nation's top leaders should speak out strongly against bigotry of all kinds," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Local and national leaders should recognize the fact that anti-Muslim hate crimes and acts of terrorism are just part of the growing white supremacist movement promoted and tolerated by the Trump administration."

He said CAIR has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president and the subsequent Muslim Ban executive orders and the appointment of Islamophobic policymakers.

SEE: CAIR Says Trump's Islamophobic 'Prayer Rug' Tweet Designed to Distract from Latest Legal Problems
https://www.cair.com/cair_says_trump_s_islamophobic_prayer_rug_tweet_designed_to_distract_from_latest_legal_problems 
CAIR Condemns Anti-Semitic Incidents in Maryland, D.C.
https://www.cair.com/cair_condemns_ant_semitic_incidents_in_maryland_d_c 
CAIR-Dallas Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Attack on Oklahoma Muslim Mother, Daughter in Texas
https://www.cair.com/cair_dallas_calls_for_hate_crime_probe_of_attack_on_oklahoma_muslim_mother_daughter_in_texas 
Video: CAIR-Georgia Seeks Public's Help in Identifying Driver Who Harassed Muslim Family on Georgia Highway
https://www.cair.com/video_cair_georgia_seeks_public_s_help_in_identifying_driver_who_harassed_muslim_family_on_georgia_highway

Individuals in New York are asked to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-NY at (646) 665-7599, or by filing a report at: http://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/. 

CAIR launched an app to share critical "know your rights" information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.

For a quick download of CAIR's civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, [email protected] or 917-669-4006; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

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