More Police Patrols Near Targeted Muslim Enclave

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published January 23, 2019 at 3:45 PM EST

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says state police are increasing patrols around an upstate New York Muslim community that was targeted for attack "out of an abundance of caution."

Police in the Rochester area say four people with access to guns and homemade explosives planned an attack on the enclave, called Islamberg. Three men face weapons possession and conspiracy charges. A 16-year-old is charged as an adolescent offender.

Cuomo said Wednesday he also is directing the State Police Hate Crimes Unit to assist authorities in the investigation.

The Democratic governor says "we stand with the Muslim community and we will hold those behind this thwarted plot responsible to the full extent of the law."

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Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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