NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Four young men were arrested in New York state for allegedly planning a “potentially lethal” attack on a Muslim community regularly targeted by US extremist sites, police said Wednesday.
Police in Greece, New York recovered three explosive devices and 23 weapons — mostly shotguns — from the homes of the suspects, according to spokesman, Jared Rene.
The four, whose ages range from 16 to 20, were accused of planning a “potentially lethal attack” for against a community called “Islamberg” several hours drive from Greece, Rene said.
The community of some 200 people is managed by the organization Muslims of America, which thanked authorities for preventing a “possible massacre of our community.”
Rene said police were tipped off by a high school student who overheard other students speaking of a “next school shooter.”
When authorities searched homes they found weapons legally obtained by parents, but uncovered the attack plot.
“The kids did the right thing. When they saw something, they said something. It was a collaborative effort, we uncovered what was probably going to be a deadly attack,” he said.
© Agence France-Presse
