NEW YORK (AP) — Two New York City brothers were charged Monday with amassing an arsenal of explosive devices and unregulated weapons at their family residence, where authorities say they also found anarchist propaganda and a list of targets that included, unidentified, police officers, judges, politicians and celebrities.
Andrew and Angelo Hatziagelis were indicted on 130 counts of a wide variety of crimes, including criminal possession and sale of weapons, and were arrested, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement released Monday.
“Today the city is safer,” Katz declared. “We cannot measure the number of lives that were saved, but we do know that these weapons will never hurt anyone.”
Lawyers for Andrew Hatziagelis, 39, and Angelo Hatziagelis, 51, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
The investigation, which also involved state and federal agents, was prompted by intelligence indicating that the brothers were acquiring gun parts and accessories to make so-called ghost guns, Katz said.
Ghost guns are firearms without a serial number that are often assembled at home or made with 3D printers. This process allows people to evade background checks and makes it harder for law enforcement to track down owners.
Authorities said the explosive devices and firearms were located in the brothers’ apartment in the Astoria section of Queens, where they lived with their mother and another brother. Police searched the residence on January 17, after obtaining a warrant.
Police reported that they seized eight operational explosive devices, two AR-15 type ghost rifles, a partially completed AK-47 type ghost rifle, several pistols, more than 600 bullets, a 3D printer, firearm parts and 29 high-quality magazines. capacity, some of which were drawn with the printer.
Investigators said they also found notes with instructions for making explosive devices, as well as anarchist propaganda.
A sheet of paper labeled “hit list” included general targets without specific names, such as police officers, judges, politicians, celebrities, “corporate scum” and “banking scum.” It also said “Eliminate the scum, cleanse the Earth.”
The brothers are scheduled to appear on February 15.
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2024-01-29 22:15:23
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