NEW YORK – On Tuesday, authorities said that they had identified the suspected leader of a violent extremist cell that had planned to poison children and members of minority groups in New York City.
Michail Chkhikvishvili, who is twenty years old, was taken into custody in Moldova on July 6th.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Chkhikvishvili is the leader of the “Maniac Murder Cult,” which is a violent extremist group that operates on a global scale and is motivated by racial and ethnic prejudice.
According to the authorities, Chkhikvishvili began utilizing encrypted mobile messaging services in 2022 when she was residing with a relative in Brooklyn. She was using these platforms to inspire people to commit violent hate crimes. Additionally, he asserted that he was the perpetrator of hate crimes while he was residing there.
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Through the use of one of these platforms, an undercover law enforcement officer made contact with Chkhikvishvili and asserted that they were a potential recruit for the extremist organization.
Beginning around November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly asked the undercover employee to commit acts of mass violence, such as bombings and arsons, targeting racial minorities and Jewish people. Additionally, Chkhikvishvili allegedly provided detailed plans and instructions on how to make bombs and Molotov cocktails, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
According to the authorities, Chkhikvishvili started making preparations for an attack that would take place in New York City on the evening of New Year’s Eve in the year 2023.
It is reported that Chkhikvishvili had the intention of having someone dress up as Santa Claus and distribute candies that contained poison to children and members of racial minorities who attended Jewish schools in Brooklyn.
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According to the authorities, Chkhikvishvili instructed the undercover employee on how to produce poisons containing ricin, in addition to other potent poisons and gasses.
Chkhikvishvili was charged with soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City, according to a four-count indictment that was handed down by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn on Monday.