Man charged with threatening Islamic center in Pinellas

islamic mosque of st. petersburg

Authorities say a man threatened to firebomb an Islamic center in Florida shortly after the terrorist attacks in Paris.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa reported in a statement that 43-year-old Martin Alan Schnitzler called the Islamic Society of Pinellas County last Friday. The release says he left a voicemail saying he was going to the center to “firebomb you and shoot whoever is there.”

FBI agents arrested Schnitzler on Tuesday. He was charged with making a telephonic threat to kill, injure or intimidate using fire or an explosive. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Attempts to contact Schnitzler were unsuccessful, and it wasn’t clear if he has an attorney.

At least 129 people were killed in Friday’s attacks in the French capital.

Republished with permission of the Associated Press.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.



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