Winnipegger facing terrorism charges linked to alleged hate group that planned attack on NYC school children: RCMP

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A 19-year-old Winnipeg man facing terrorism related charges is alleged to have links to an international, racially motivated hate group.

Manitoba RCMP told CTV News the investigation into Winnipeg’s Nevin Thunder Young has linked him to MKY, or Maniac Murder Cult - a group whose alleged leader U.S. authorities say planned a New Year’s Eve attack on racial minorities and Jewish school children.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Georgian national Michail Chkhikvishvili, 20, was indicted in September 2024 on charges of soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City.

The DOJ said the terrorist organization has members in the U.S. and abroad, and allegedly recruited others to commit violent acts.

Investigators believe Chkhikvishvili was a leader in the group, and began encouraging others, primarily via encrypted mobile messaging platforms, to commit violent hate crimes and other acts of violence on behalf of MKY starting in July of 2022.

U.S. authorities allege Chkhikvishvili began planning a mass casualty attack in New York City to happen on New Year’s Eve, which involved a person dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn.

If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The DOJ told CTV News Winnipeg Chkhikvishvili is pending extradition from Moldova, and officials could not discuss the case beyond what is included in its indictment.

RCMP said online radicalization forms part of the investigation in Winnipeg.

However, investigators would not confirm how long Young was a member of the group or whether there could be other suspects wanted in connection with this case.

MKY is not currently listed as a terrorist entity in Canada, but the RCMP notes terrorism-related charges can still be laid even if an organization is not officially proscribed as a terrorist entity in this country.

Young was charged with two counts of committing an offence for a terrorist group, along with one count each of participation and facilitating terrorist activity.

None of the charges have been tested in court, and Young is presumed innocent.

- With files from CTV’s Jon Hendricks