Yonkers Man Threatened To Kill Mayor, Cops And Paradegoers: Feds

YONKERS, NY — Social media threats escalated to in-person threats, invoking the name of terrorist organizations like ISIS, and threats to attack the Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade this weekend.

Ridon Kola was arrested on Friday based on a criminal complaint filed in White Plains federal court charging him with making threatening interstate communications, in which he threatened to kill officers of the Yonkers Police Department and Mayor Mike Spano, federal officials announced today.

"As alleged, Ridon Kola posted threats on social media against law enforcement, stating his support for ISIS and his intention to murder numerous police officers," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY Damian Williams said in a statement, announcing the federal charges. "Undeterred after questioning from law enforcement, Kola’s conduct escalated, as he continued to assure police his threats would be carried out. Threatening violence against police or to undermine public safety will not be tolerated, as Kola now stands charged and faces prison time for his threats against our dedicated law enforcement partners tasked with keeping us safe."

According to federal court documents, Kola has engaged in escalating threats of violence against, among others, law enforcement, culminating in recent online threats against the YPD in connection with the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for Saturday. His posts demonstrate support for radical Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks. In a recent threatening post, Kola posed with an axe.

"As we allege today, Kola, who has demonstrated support for radical Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks, made a series of threats to the lives of law enforcement and others, and now he will be forced to face the consequences of his actions," Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI NY Field Office Michael J. Driscoll said. "Counterterrorism remains the FBI’s top priority, and through our NY JTTF, we remain committed to keeping all New Yorkers safe from acts of terror."

On November 19, 2021, Kola posted to a YPD official social media account a message in Albanian that translates to: "I am going to slaughter you little girls," according to the indictment.

On December 5, 2021, Kola posted to the same YPD social media account a message stating: "Starting tomorrow I will start killing your officers just so u know who is doing it, Ridon Kola Albanian blood," and that he would also kill Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers, federal officials said.

Following those threats, in December 2021, Yonkers police detectives interviewed Kola at his residence. He admitted to making the threatening posts but claimed he had no plans to harm YPD officers or the mayor. Based on his demeanor, YPD issued a warning to officers to exercise diligence and caution in any encounters with Kola.

"The safety of our residents, our community, and the members of our Police Department is paramount; every threat is investigated to the fullest extent possible," Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. "Thankfully, due to the outstanding collaborative efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and our Yonkers Police Intelligence Division, our City will enjoy a safe Saint Patrick’s Day parade tomorrow free from intimidation by bad actors."

Beginning in early 2023, and continuing in the days leading up to the planned St. Patrick’s Day parade, Kola has escalated his threats against the YPD and other government officials and has expressed his support for violent Islamic extremism and terrorist attacks, law enforcement officials said.

In January 2023, KOLA posted multiple statements expressing support for "jihad," or "to war against non-Muslims," and the establishment of a "caliphate," and depicting the raised index finger gesture used by jihadist groups, including the terrorist organization the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham ("ISIS"), according to charging documents.

Federal prosecutors say that on March 6, appearing to reference YPD’s prior interview, Kola sent a direct message to the YPD social media account reading :"I’m looking for that officer that came to my house and threatened me and my family to kill us. I’m going to burn the world until I find him Vallahi [by God], no matter what happens to me there will never be peace in this country anymore! Allahu Ekberr."

The phrase "Allahu Ekberr" is one form of an Arabic phrase meaning "God is great," which radical Islamic extremists have proclaimed in connection with the commission of terrorist attacks.

On March 7, prosecutors said, Kola posted a statement praising Sayfullo Saipov, the recently convicted perpetrator of a terrorist attack for ISIS in which he used a truck on Halloween in 2017 to murder eight victims and injure many more on a bike bath in lower Manhattan. Kola referred to Saipov as "my BROTHER."

As of March 9, according to law enforcement, Kola’s social media account profile included the statement, "Now is personal America and the world!!!” and a threat to burn "cia fbi nsa police jud[g]es alive w their families too!"

Also on March 9, officials say, he sent two direct messages to the YPD social media account reading :

"First people to be crucified will be the Yonkers rats Vallahi. Allahu Ekberr"; and "I will crucify Yonkers cops and their bosses all along McLean ave. It will be a horror scene . . . Allahu Ekberr."

McLean Avenue in Yonkers is part of the route for the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade taking place on Saturday, and YPD officers will be posted to the parade route along that street. Kola’s residence is in the area of the parade route.

Police say that on March 12, Kola posted to his social media feed a photograph of himself holding an axe with a statement in Albanian, translating to: "Come on Judas, I’m waiting for you."

Kola, 32, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI’s NY Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. He also thanked the YPD and the Yonkers Police Intelligence Division for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Sullivan is in charge of the prosecution.