Elham Asaad Buaras
A 20-year-old man has been arrested in the US after allegedly plotting an attack on a mosque in Ohio, posting extremist videos online that referenced the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings in New Zealand and warning worshippers they would “feel it,” federal authorities say.
Wyatt James Brzoska of Valley City, Ohio, was taken into custody on March 18 in Medina County and now faces federal charges including making interstate threats and unlawful possession of firearms while using a controlled substance, according to a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Investigators say the arrest stems from a series of videos Brzoska posted on social media, including clips that referenced mass shootings and symbols linked to extremist groups. One video from March 10 reportedly showed Brzoska wearing military style clothing, recording a mosque in northern Ohio and overlaying text that said, “You will feel it.”
In earlier posts from late 2025, Brzoska reportedly made multiple references to the Christchurch massacre, where a gunman killed 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019, including a chilling remark about cooking “51 kebabs,” which investigators say appears to allude to the number of victims in that attack and reflects a broader pattern of glorifying mass-casualty violence.
The FBI’s National Threat Operations Centre was alerted to Brzoska’s posts in November 2025 after an anonymous tip flagged threatening videos that initially showed him with a BB gun. At a first interview following the tip, he allegedly told local deputies the posts were a “joke” and that the firearms in his home belonged to his mother and were safely secured.
However, in later interviews he admitted to owning multiple firearms, including an AR-15 style rifle, two shotguns and a Springfield bolt-action rifle, according to court documents. Subsequent federal filings later detailed that investigators recovered a larger cache of weapons and tactical items from the property, including additional firearms, ammunition and protective gear, which prosecutors say was consistent with preparation for a potential mass casualty attack.
Court documents also indicate that Brzoska allegedly posted additional extremist imagery online, including references to past mass shooters and symbols associated with neo-Nazi ideology, including the “black sun” emblem.
Investigators further allege that he carried out reconnaissance of a mosque in northern Ohio, filming the site on March 10 and selecting it as a potential target. Prosecutors say the mosque was scheduled to hold a community event on March 14, just days after the alleged surveillance video was posted, and later filings identify the target as a mosque in Columbia Station, Lorain County, although authorities have not publicly named it for security reasons.
Federal prosecutors have since argued in court filings that the case goes beyond threats alone, stating that only timely intervention by law enforcement prevented what they described as a potential mass casualty attack. They also alleged that Brzoska had taken substantial steps toward carrying out violence, including weapons stockpiling, online planning, and surveillance activity.
Brzoska also reportedly made repeated references online to the Christchurch attacker, Brenton Tarrant, and investigators say his posts demonstrated fixation on the attack and its victims, including the reference to “51 kebabs,” which they interpret as a reference to the 51 people killed in Christchurch.
The FBI’s investigation began escalating after further monitoring of his online activity following the initial tip, with officials concluding that the content had moved from online threats to actionable preparation.
The mosque Brzoska allegedly targeted was scheduled to hold an event on March 14, just days after he filmed it in the video posted online. Federal officials have not publicly named the mosque involved, and no details have yet been disclosed about how the alleged plan might have been ultimately uncovered.
Brzoska remains in custody as the investigation continues. He faces additional potential charges as prosecutors review further evidence, and it is not yet clear what additional indictments may follow ahead of trial.
Feature photo: Wyatt James Brzoska, 20, of Valley City, Ohio, who was arrested on March 18 over an alleged plot to attack a mosque in Ohio inspired by the Christchurch shootings, according to authorities. (Credit: Medina County Sheriff’s Office)
