Federal Authorities Foil 20-Year-Old Neo-Nazi Leader's New Year's Eve Plot to Poison NYC Children

Jul 16, 2024, 10:23 PM

Federal authorities have disrupted a plot by Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 20-year-old Georgian national and leader of the neo-Nazi group 'Maniac Murder Cult', to commit hate crimes in New York City. Chkhikvishvili, also known as 'Commander Butcher', allegedly planned to dress as Santa Claus and distribute poisoned candy to racial minorities and Jewish children, particularly targeting Jewish schools in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve. The scheme, which included recruiting others to commit arsons and bombings, was foiled by the FBI last year when Chkhikvishvili unknowingly pitched his plan to an undercover agent. Chkhikvishvili has been indicted on charges of soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack.