Man Faces Terrorism Charges after Threatening Dearborn Mosque
Authorities say the case is still under investigation and have declined to provide detailed comment. Court filings, however, outline serious accusations against 32-year-old Macin Horstemeyer, who is being held without bond at Blue Ridge Regional Jail, ABC 13 reported on Monday.
Horstemeyer has been charged with making threats against the public, issuing online threats, soliciting terrorism, and conspiring to commit a terrorist act.
According to a criminal complaint, the most recent allegations surfaced while he was already in custody last week. Officers reported that Horstemeyer told them if he were to carry out an attack, his target would be a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan, using an AR-15 rifle.
Investigators said the threats began in February and continued for months, appearing in YouTube comment sections. The comments reportedly included violent rhetoric directed at Black people and Muslims. Google later flagged the content and alerted the FBI.
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Court records also indicate that Horstemeyer expressed admiration for Dylann Roof, who killed nine people in a Charleston church in 2015.
When questioned, Horstemeyer told officers he had been watching videos of extremist violence abroad, which left him angry. He described his posts as thoughts rather than intentions. He also admitted to holding white supremacist beliefs but denied belonging to any organized group.
Horstemeyer remains in custody as the investigation continues. Authorities have not disclosed when his next court appearance will take place.
Source: Agencies
