By COLlive reporter
An agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cautioned the editorial staff of COLlive.com, a Chabad-Lubavitch community website, over a suspicious comment written about a radical Muslim who is threatening Chasidic followers.
The official from the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was referring to a reader’s comment posted on a May 31, 2009 article titled “770 Threatened Again?”
Yousef Al-Khattab, the Jewish-born editor of revolutionmuslim.com, was arrested Sunday for questioning after threatening a Lubavitch bochur at the annual pro-Israel Parade in New York City.
COLlive photographer Yossi Percia had captured the incident but was approached by unidentified law enforcement officers who told him to erase the photos.
Comment #9 on the article called to do “whatever it takes” and “such evil must be completely eradicated according to Torah law” among more harsh wording that included “poison” and “shooting.”
‘AN IDIOT’
“I understand the frustration,” the agent who is stationed in New York told COLlive in a phone conversation Monday. “But you can’t go so far as threatening someone or to kill someone.”
“I look through COLlive and the people posting are good people and you’re writing about good things – we don’t want them getting in trouble,” he added and asked not to be identified by name.
We asked him what is the difference between the offending comment and the intimidating posts by Al-Khattab naming Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn as the source of Israeli “war crimes.”
The official answered: “He comes close. As we all know, he is a person of interest to us because of the knuckle-head stuff he does, his rhetoric and because he’s so out there on Fox News and blogs. I cannot say if he’s subject or not.”
Clearly, the agent added, Al-Khattab has “lost his way in life. He’s an idiot and a pain in the —–. But he has a right to say the things he says because we have freedom of speech in this great country. In another, he would have been arrested.”
DETECTIVES IN 770
NYPD detectives were spotted Monday by COLlive photographer Odelia, inspecting security measures at 770’s large synagogue and the offices at 788 Eastern Parkway.
Asked about the security status of 770, the agent said: “Do I think there is a threat more than any place in New York City? no.
“Historically, there’s an ongoing threat to this city as a target of extremist people. 770 is not more [of a threat] and not less.”
He agreed that “Muslims, Jews, Christians and non-religious people don’t like [Al-Khattab],” but asked that COLlive readers don’t write instigating comments, otherwise they might be investigated “if something happens.”
COLlive Related Stories:
Yousef Al-Khattab Was Arrested
Is 770 a Muslim Target?
Muslim: 770 is War Crimes Source
How Serious is Al Khattab?
A goy does not need to wear a yarmulka even as a sign of respect. The Rebbe once made a similar comment.
i’m comment 30!!!
i know a worker (nonjewish) in a shul that whenever he comes up to the mens section, he puts a yamulke for respect.
I am a local resident and kind of disgusted by some of your comments. These guys come down, find sometime in their busy schedule and try to help and protect us. One of them probably a Jew puts on a kippah out of respect for the shul, and y’all got to say it’s a bit small or colorful. Where were you brought up, fool. I would think someone from around here would know better. Anyway I just had to get that out.
Thank you
I like the officials positive veiw of COL. We obviously should not come across as radicals.
I my self was told by a group of three exreamly large blacks, [-muslim or black hebrewes], that they know where I’m coming from, and they said it by name 770, and said you got on to the kingston station, and said one day they will come and kill us all.
I told the police, nothing done, saying they didn’t touch me,
called the FBI too.
btw
it’s known that 770 is a targat, and was for many years, the Rebbe spoke about it 27 nissan 5750, for those who know…
or want to know.
COLLIVE
Monitor your comments.
It doesn’t matter waht people post- it’s in your hands to moderate and monitor. Do it heavily. Please. For Klal Yisroel. NO more Lashon Hara, no more idiot comments.
“Words can build, and words can devastate, words can establish love or senseless hate…”
I agree, making stupid, empty comments about knocking him off isn’t the smartest thing some people have ever done, but the likelihood of any Lubavitcher actually doing anything except venting is zero. The FBI is quite rightly doing their job, but it’s disturbing that this hatemonger still posts his rhetoric that must be inciting young, hotheaded Muslim radicals to plot against us (just look @ the Bronx last week!!) OTOH, letting him rant may be a good way to track his activities. These crazies keep law enforcement very busy! BTW, what happened to this hateful crackpot after his threats at… Read more »
This is getting serious…FBI…NYPD Detectives…G-d really is working overtime! B”H.
Yingelach and Meidalach have you not learnt that the world expects more from us than just to mimic them. When we do,
they feel offended. Stand up for your rights, Drocheho Darchei Noam.
It’s just plain lazy not to use proper spelling and grammar, and it reflects poorly on all of us. You are not texting privately here!
he’s pointing with his tefilin finger?
The FBI evaded all answers about the meshuggener, but came down on a silly comment that is just as much free speech as Khattab’s ramblings, and far less dangerous.
FEH! I am happy that I do not live under the Obama regime.
dear COL ppl have problems with not bieng able to shut their mouth, y r u feeding their problem, u should not be alloing these ppl to post such comments that may do more harm then goog
A point to ponder
how PATHATIC, u r a moron!! its comment number 3 you r talking about… sheeesh some ppl are just PATATATATATHIC
comment #2 is pathatic! sorry but akot of pple have the habit of using the middle finger instead of the ndex i am ssoooorrry UR PATATHIC!
the fact that torah tells you not to post lashon hara and other shmutz COL does not listen to, however they listened to the FBI and took down comment nine.
hmm
The person who posted the threatening stuff should learn the Rebbe’s sichos. Does it harm the FBI agents to post their photos?
I think the FBI needs to take these treats seriously. NO they do not have a right to threaten 770. Mabey the FBI should also tll COL how Revolution Muslims’s Cleric, Shaikh Abdullah El-Faisal was deported from the UK after telling his followers to kill Jews ect and the famious Shoe Bomer attended his Mosque. Also on Revolution Islam’s website it calls 770 the base for war crimes, and they had banners calling all supporters of Israel enemy combatants!! I would say 770 is a major target and this website should be shut down and all the members need to… Read more »
we should learn to guard our tongues
Maybe the FBI should distribute copies of the Chefetz Chaim….
There is no one in our community that intends to do harm to any Arab.
There is no case of this.
We preach goodness and kindness.
We are just aware of how dangerous these people are!
At least we finally have the proper authorities taking these things more seriuosly. Whoever this dude is–it’s scary to think–but he has an empty hatred towards chabad, and of course, all yidden, america. etc.
G-D should protect us all. Moshiach Now,
and thank you to these guys watching over us. Thank you a hundred times.
1. We must thank the police and the feds for their good work, like with Riverdale
2. We must not forget that the world was always against us. See “The Secret War Against the Jews: How Western Espionage Betrayed The Jewish People” by John Loftus and Mark Aarons: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-War-Against-Jews-Espionage/dp/0312156480
they should be warning him and not us
he is associated with people who are evil, we have done nothing wrong – ever!
It says in Talmud, you suspect someone who is suspicious
and that yarmulka looks soo goofy couldnt it be more colorful and tiny
yes if someone insinuates that mass murder should be committed he deserves bad things to happen to him
why did the photographer erase his photos bc it shows a display of injustice?
does anyone else notice anything very not kosher about the guys hand gesture in the last picture?
Please be careful with what you post!
They probly though that we were meshugaim…..