Man allegedly threatened to kill police during St. Patrick’s Day parade

A man was charged on Friday with transmitting a threat after he allegedly threatened to kill police officers at a St. Patrick’s Day parade just outside New York City.

Ridon Kola’s alleged online threats were made against officers and the mayor of Yonkers, New York, who are scheduled to participate in the Yonkers parade on Saturday, prosecutors say.

Kola allegedly wrote, “I will crucify the Yonkers cops and their bosses all along McLean Avenue. It will be a scene of horror,” according to the criminal complaint.

Kola lives near the end of the parade route, according to the complaint.

After Kola was questioned by authorities, his “conduct escalated as he continued to assure police that his threats would be carried out,” said Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a press release.

A Yonkers city official said no changes would be made to Saturday’s parade, although officers are on hand to make sure everyone is safe.

“I want to commend our Yonkers Police Department, FBI, NYPD, Joint Terrorism Task Force and all agencies involved in combating this threat,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in a statement. a statement.

“Yonkers is proud to host one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York and threats like this won’t stop us from celebrating the many contributions of our Irish American community,” the mayor added.

Kola’s online posts also “demonstrate support for radical Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks, including at least one terrorist attack on a public holiday,” according to the criminal complaint.

In a “recent threatening post,” Kola showed himself with an axe, according to the complaint.

Kola was ordered to be detained when he appeared in federal court on Friday.