Ridon Kola arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Yonkers mayor, police officers at St. Patrick's Day Parade
YONKERS, N.Y. -- A man accused of making threats ahead of Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Yonkers is now facing federal charges.
Ridon Kola is accused of threatening to kill police officers and the mayor at the parade.
"That's usually what terrorists want to do. They want to terrorize your mind, terrorize your thoughts and make you afraid," Mayor Mike Spano said.
A multi-agency investigation uncovered disturbing threats on social media.
Kola allegedly expressed support for radical Islamic extremism.
The FBI says he sent a direct message to Yonkers Police this month, writing, "I will crucify Yonkers cops and their bosses all along McLean ave. It will be a horror scene . . . Allahu Ekberr."
The 32-year-old lives near the parade route and was questioned by law enforcement in the past.
This time, members of the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force intercepted and arrested Kola.
He faced a judge in federal court Friday.
People who live in the area feel relieved.
"It is scary, but it's good to know that they've been caught. There's always someone out there trying to do something," Yonkers resident Maria Oriol said.
The U.S. Attorney says just this month, Kola praised Sayfullo Saipov, calling him his brother. Saipov is serving life in prison for using a truck to run over and kill eight people, injuring others, in a bike path terror attack on Mahnattan's West Side on Halloween 2017.
"Most of the time, these things are unfounded. Most of the time, these things don't pan out, but we have to be vigilant and we have to be 100 percent," Spano said.
Spano says there will be sufficient law enforcement on the parade route Saturday, both in uniform and in plain clothes.