Defendants Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman, both residents of Brooklyn, and lawyers as well were arrested and charged with possession of explosive device components and attacking a police vehicle with a Molotov cocktail. They will be charged with federal crimes and will be prosecuted by the office of the Eastern District of New York. Police saw Rahman throw the Molotov cocktail and then found her and Mattis inside a van with explosives material.
United States Attorney Donoghue said:
“These defendants are charged with attacking the New York City Police Department while its Police Officers are risking their lives to protect the Constitutional rights of protesters and the safety of us all. No rational human being can ever believe that hurling firebombs at Police Officers and vehicles is justified. The Eastern District of New York will do everything in its power to protect those who protect us all, and we will ensure that criminals who use the camouflage of lawful protest to launch violent attacks against Police Officers face justice.”
“When you conduct a violent attack that breaks federal law, the FBI New York office, along with our NYPD and Department of Justice partners, will move with speed to hold you accountable. Behavior like the attacks charged here puts our entire community – protestors and first responders alike – in danger, and we will simply not allow it to go unaddressed. The consequences for conducting this alleged attack, and any similar activity planned for the future, will be severe.”
“Molotov Cocktails are violent tools of individuals looking to inflict harm and damage our city. Crimes like these are devastating to their targets and also to the protestors and their right to free speech that police are working hard to protect. It is reassuring that the U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn has taken this case. I’m confident that the severest penalties under the law will be sought.”