A man from Oregon has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly targeting Jewish hospitals and care centres in New York City and Long Island with false bomb threats. Domagoj Patkovic, 31, from Portland, faces multiple charges, including conspiring to make threats concerning explosives and transmitting threatening communications, as per an indictment by prosecutors from the Eastern District of New York.
Patkovic is accused of making at least six threatening phone calls to Jewish hospitals and a care centre network between May and September 2021. During these calls, he reportedly claimed to have planted bombs at the facilities and threatened to detonate them in various locations, including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island, while also using anti-Semitic slurs.
According to court documents, Patkovic allegedly live-streamed these calls on Discord, an online social media and messaging platform.
US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, stated that Patkovic and his accomplices, driven by anti-Semitic hatred, targeted Jewish hospitals and care centres with hoax bomb threats, causing unnecessary chaos and alarm and endangering patients and staff. Peace emphasised the commitment to protecting all community members and prosecuting those responsible for such dangerous threats.
Local police responded to several of Patkovic’s alleged threats, conducting bomb sweeps of buildings. In one instance in September, a hospital in Long Island was partially evacuated and locked down. No explosives were found.
Christie Curtis, the FBI’s New York acting assistant director in charge, condemned the hoax bomb threats, stating they incited unnecessary hysteria and diverted limited resources. She affirmed the FBI’s stance against tolerating such schemes motivated by anti-Semitic beliefs.
Patkovic is scheduled to appear in the US District Court of Oregon on Tuesday afternoon, where prosecutors will request his detention pending trial. If detained, he will be transported to Brooklyn for arraignment in federal court.
If convicted, Patkovic could face up to 155 years in prison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Domagoj Patkovic?
Domagoj Patkovic is a 31-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, accused of making fake bomb threats targeting Jewish hospitals.
What charges is Patkovic facing?
Patkovic faces charges of making threats concerning explosives, transmitting threatening communications, and conveying false information.
How many threatening calls did Patkovic allegedly make?
Patkovic allegedly made at least six violent and threatening phone calls.
What was the response to the bomb threats?
Local police performed bomb sweeps and partially evacuated a Long Island hospital in response to the threats.
What is the maximum sentence Patkovic could face if convicted?
Patkovic faces up to 155 years in prison if convicted.