A 19-year-old Michigan man has been charged with threatening mass murder at a synagogue

Detroit, Michigan — A 19-year-old Michigan man has been charged with threatening mass murder at a synagogue on the fifth anniversary of the massacre at two New Zealand mosques by a white supremacist, federal officials said.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Sean Patrick Petella, of Pickford Township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was arrested on Friday and charged with sending a letter containing a threat to injure another person. Prosecutors say he planned to target the Shaare Zedek group in East Lansing.

He allegedly made threats on social media, including Instagram, that included comments about neo-Nazi ideology, anti-Semitism and glorifying mass shootings, most notably the 2019 shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Detroit News reported.

Petila was arrested on the same day a truck driver was found guilty of storming a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 and killing 11 worshipers in an act of anti-Semitic terrorism. The attack on the Tree of Life synagogue was the deadliest attack on Jews in US history, and it comes after the attacker constantly spoke out on social media about his hatred of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Ami Begman of Shaare Zedek said the synagogue notified the congregation of 220 families after they learned Friday afternoon of the investigation from FBI agents, and that this person had been arrested and charged.

“We wanted our followers to know that federal, state and local authorities were aware of the situation that didn’t happen because our law enforcement was on top of things, which we’re thankful for,” Bigman told the Detroit News.

She said the synagogue maintained its usual security measures as it went to services on Shabbat.

The investigation began with a tip earlier this week that someone was making mass murder threats on Instagram, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

When FBI agents arrested Petila at his home Friday, they found a cache of weapons, knives, tactical equipment, a red and white Nazi flag, and tentative plans to kill members of the Shaarei Zedek group on March 15, 2024, according to the complaint.

The Michigan case centers on several anti-Semitic social media posts allegedly made by Petila. Prosecutors said he made a clear reference to the New Zealand shooter, who is serving a life sentence for killing 51 people and wounding 40 others in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.

Pietila is being temporarily held without bond pending a hearing Thursday in federal court in Grand Rapids. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

His attorney, Elizabeth Lacus, declined to comment Friday to the Detroit News.

US Attorney Mark Totten said in a statement that he was “extremely grateful to the FBI for its swift action in identifying and apprehending Petella.”

He added that “anti-Semitic threats and violence against our Jewish communities – or any other group for that matter – will not be tolerated in the Western District of Michigan.” Today and every day we take seriously all credible threats.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.