Foiling the Festive Fiend: Authorities Thwart Chilling Plot to Poison Children on New Year's Eve

In a chilling turn of events, federal authorities have uncovered a disturbing plot orchestrated by a self-proclaimed "Butcher" to target racial minorities, the Jewish community, and the homeless in New York City. The alleged scheme involved a Santa Claus disguise, poisoned candies, and a larger plan for a "mass casualty attack" on the city's New Year's Eve celebrations. This shocking revelation has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting a swift and decisive response from law enforcement to protect the public from this heinous act of domestic terrorism.

Unmasking the Festive Fiend: A Sinister Plot Unveiled

The Alleged Scheme: Poisoned Candies and a Santa Disguise

According to federal authorities, the leader of a white supremacist group, who calls himself the "Butcher," directed an individual to dress up as Santa Claus, complete with a big beard, eyebrows, makeup, and glasses. The plan was for this individual to hand out "poisoned candies to many racial minorities and traitors" in New York City on New Year's Eve. Prosecutors allege that the step-by-step instructions for this scheme were sent to an undercover agent via a messaging platform in November, and the details are included in a federal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York.The alleged instructions detailed the purchase of the Santa costume, as well as "poison materials" and "chocolate candies" to be acquired anonymously using delivery services or cash payments. The individual was then to execute the Santa scheme on New Year's Eve and, afterward, take a taxi to another location to change clothes and "burn Santa clothes and equipment."

A Larger Plot: Targeting Minority Communities and the Jewish Community

The alleged Santa Claus scheme was just one part of a larger planned "mass casualty attack" on New York City set for New Year's Eve, according to prosecutors. They claim that the so-called "Butcher," Michail Chkhikvishvili, also sent "bomb-making instructions and guidance on making Molotov cocktails" to the undercover agent, with the hope that the attack would be "bigger action than Breivik," referring to the 2011 Norway attacks carried out by Neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik.Prosecutors further allege that the scheme involved providing "candy laced with poison to children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn," demonstrating the breadth and depravity of the plot.

The Alleged Mastermind: Michail Chkhikvishvili and the Maniac Murder Cult

Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 20-year-old Georgian national, is the alleged leader of a group that calls themselves the Maniac Murder Cult. He is charged in a four-count federal indictment with conspiracy to solicit violent felonies, solicitation of violent felonies, distribution of information pertaining to the making and use of an explosive device, and transmission of threatening communications.Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Chișinău, Moldova, as part of an Interpol agreement on Saturday, July 6, 2024. As of July 17, he remains in the Eastern European country, and it is not yet clear when he will be extradited to the United States.

A Disturbing History of Hate and Violence

Prosecutors allege that by September 2021, a teenage Chkhikvishvili had distributed a Neo-Nazi manifesto he called the "Hater's Handbook," which encourages members to participate in mass violence, such as school shootings, suicide bombings, and mass "terror attacks" targeting racial minorities for the purpose of "ethnic cleansing." This violence was specifically encouraged within the United States.Furthermore, prosecutors claim that by November 2022, Chkhikvishvili had allegedly sent the undercover agent detailed manuals for making and mixing lethal poisons and gases, as well as instructions to make ricin-based poisons in both powder and liquid form. Some of these materials have been linked to radical Islamist jihadist groups and designated foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS.Chkhikvishvili's alleged history of violence is further evidenced by his own statements, in which he claimed to have "murdered for the white race" and that he planned to "murder more," while also stating that he would "make others murder first."

A Coordinated International Effort to Bring the Perpetrator to Justice

The arrest of Michail Chkhikvishvili in Moldova was the result of a collaborative effort between U.S. federal authorities and international law enforcement agencies. This cross-border cooperation demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case and their commitment to ensuring that those responsible for such heinous acts are held accountable, regardless of where they may be hiding.As the investigation continues, the public can take some solace in the knowledge that the authorities have thwarted this chilling plot and are working tirelessly to protect the community from further harm. The vigilance and swift action of law enforcement have undoubtedly saved countless lives and prevented a tragedy of unimaginable proportions.