Man Charged after Making 'terroristic' Threats against Muslim Leader in NY

The imam of the New Brunswick Islamic Center in North Brunswick received terroristic threats from a New York man, 40, who has been charged for his alleged actions.

Khaliyk Sellers, of the Bronx, was arrested without incident May 27 in Pennsylvania where he also is facing weapons charges, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said, mycentraljersey.com reported.

The Islamic Center’s website lists Shadee Elmasry as the spiritual director.

North Brunswick police on May 26 learned of multiple explicit and credible threats made via text message to the spiritual director, Ciccone said.

An investigation by North Brunswick police, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness identified Sellers as the suspect, the prosecutor said.

"The cooperation and outstanding police work conducted by the aforementioned agencies allowed law enforcement to prevent further threats of violence to the members of our community," Ciccone said.

Hate crimes against American Muslims reached their highest levels since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in 2015, fueled by terrorist attacks and divisive political rhetoric. New York was among the states with the most reported incidents of anti-Muslim violence.

A nonprofit organization found an increase in hate crimes against the Muslim community in 2019, based on a survey of over 600 Muslims in New York. Over 43% of Muslim youth and over 75% of Muslim adults reported experiencing or witnessing a hate crime.

Source: Agencies