A Massachusetts man was arrested for inciting others to shoot worshipers outside synagogues and for multiple firearms violations, the Beverly Police Department said.
Matthew Scouras, 34, was arraigned Monday for allegedly posting, on an online image board, threats against Jewish people, threats to rape Jewish women, and for encouraging other users to shoot people outside of synagogues.
The suspect was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation, and a search of his home recovered a Nazi flag, a 9 mm. Glock ghost gun with no serial number, six boxes of ammunition, $70,000 in cash, and various firearm parts and accessories, including stocks, scopes, pistol frames, and rifle lower receivers.
According to police, under Massachusetts firearms laws, each lower receiver is legally considered to be a different gun, leading to 12 charges of possession of a firearm without a license. Other charges included illegal possession of a large-capacity feeding device, improper firearm storage, threats to destroy a place of worship, communication of a threat with a firearm, and making a firearm without a serial number.
The police reportedly operated off of a tip from federal law enforcement.
Scouras is being held without bail, pending a January 13 detention hearing.
Surge in antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts
A December 30 report from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security warned that antisemitic crimes have risen by 70% in the state.
There were 119 incidents in 2023, which included 82 vandalism incidents, 23 intimidation incidents, four simple assaults, and two aggravated assaults. In the state, churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques were subject to 35 bias incidents in 2023.