Four charged in New York state 'plot' against Muslims

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Three men and a high school student have been arrested and charged over an alleged plot against an upstate New York Muslim community, U.S. authorities said Tuesday.

The suspects are accused of possessing homemade bombs and firearms, and plotting to attack the rural Muslim enclave of Islamberg, according to court papers.

The three men are due to appear in court on Wednesday.

They have been identified as Andrew Crysel,18, Vincent Vetromile,19, and Brian Colaneri, 20. The three were charged with weapons possession and conspiracy, while the 16-year-old high school student was charged as an adolescent offender.

(L to R) Vincent Vetromile, 19, of Greece, New York, Brian Colaneri, 20, of Gates, New York and Andrew Crysel of East Rochester, New York. /VCG Photo

The group was based in the city of Greece in the northwest of the state and the weapons were found in the adolescent's house, police said. Some 23 firearms were also found at various locations.

The Islamberg community has become a target for conspiracy theorists who claim it is a terrorist training camp, and the idea has persisted for decades, but police and analysts have dismissed accusations that the 60-acre area is a terrorist training ground.

Local residents describe the community as peaceful and friendly, but right-wing conspiracy-led media outlets like Infowars have suggested it is a training camp for Islamist militants.

"Anyone accused of plotting an act of violence targeting a religious minority should face state and federal hate crime and civil rights charges commensurate with the seriousness of their alleged actions," CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement.