Arrest Made in Racist Death Threats Case Against NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani
A suspect accused of sending racist death threats to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has been apprehended in Texas and brought back to New York for a court hearing on hate and terroristic-threat charges. Jeremy Fistel, 44, is set to be arraigned in Queens court on Thursday following his arrest in Plano last week. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, with the help of the US Marshals Service's regional fugitive task force, facilitated his return to New York. Fistel faces charges of making terroristic threats, two counts of aggressive harassment as a hate crime, and harassment based on race or religion.
The suspect allegedly left Mamdani, a Muslim US citizen born in Uganda, several racist and threatening voicemails at his state assembly office in June from an untraceable number. The messages, two of which were obtained by The Post, contained derogatory and threatening language towards Mamdani and his family. The caller warned Mamdani to leave America and made references to violent actions against him and his loved ones. The voicemails were reported to the police by a staffer at Mamdani's Queens office, and the campaign had previously received other threatening messages targeting Mamdani.
Despite Mamdani not owning a car, precautions are being taken to ensure his safety in light of the threats. The suspect's arrest and upcoming court appearance mark a significant development in the investigation into the hateful messages directed at Mamdani. The authorities are taking the matter seriously and pursuing legal action against the individual responsible for the threatening communications. The arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing hate crimes and ensuring the safety and security of all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs.