Seattle man charged with hate crime over mosque threats

Published 4:49 pm Friday, June 17, 2016

SEATTLE — A hate-crime charge has been filed against a man who allegedly made online threats against a Seattle mosque.

The Seattle Times reported Robert Farris, 37, was charged with one count of malicious harassment. He was arrested Tuesday at his Seattle apartment.

Charging documents say Farris posted threatening comments about Muslims including one with a photo of Idris Mosque with the words, “Idriss (sic) Mosque in Seattle, too many targets to count.” He also vowed to “take revenge” against Muslims, an apparent reference to the man who on Sunday killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Police said Farris told them he wrote the posts. It wasn’t immediately clear if Farris has an attorney.

Police said Farris has been previously interviewed about threats to another mosque. He remains in jail on $2 million bail.