A 21-year-old man from the Republic of Georgia, identified as the leader of a neo-Nazi extremist group known as the Maniac Murder Cult, has been indicted on multiple charges by the US Department of Justice. The individual, referred to as Commander Butcher, is accused of soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence.
The Maniac Murder Cult, an international extremist group, follows a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology that advocates violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other targeted groups. The group's objective is to incite fear and chaos through terrorism and violent actions to disrupt social order and governments.
The leader was apprehended after attempting to recruit an undercover law enforcement officer to participate in violent activities such as bombings and arsons. In November 2023, he devised a plan for a 'mass casualty event' in New York City on New Year's Eve, involving distributing poisoned candy disguised as Santa Claus to Jewish children and racial minorities in Brooklyn.
According to court documents, the suspect provided detailed instructions and manuals on creating lethal poisons and gases to carry out the scheme. Additionally, he circulated a manifesto titled the 'Hater's Handbook,' which encourages violence against racial minorities, including advocating for school shootings and mass killings targeting vulnerable groups.
Having visited New York City at least twice in 2022 and staying with family in Brooklyn, the accused faces severe penalties if convicted, including up to 20 years in prison for solicitation of violent felonies and distributing information on explosive devices. The authorities have emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the potential threat posed by the extremist group's activities.
