A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty to falsely claiming that a man he disagreed with in a fantasy football league chat was planning a mass shooting in Norway. This hoax led to a significant investigation by authorities in both Norway and the U.S. Each year, thousands of false threats are made regarding school shootings, bombings, and other violent incidents.
Matthew Gabriel, 25, sent an anonymous tip to Norwegian authorities falsely claiming that the man he disagreed with was planning a deadly attack in Oslo. The man in question was harmless and not planning anything sinister. Gabriel made the false claim because of an online disagreement in a fantasy football chat group.
Gabriel could face up to five years in prison for his actions. In addition to the false threat to Norway, he also sent a threatening email to the University of Iowa. Federal prosecutors warned against making false threats, as they can result in severe consequences and disrupt legitimate investigations.
Hoax threats have been an issue in various states, with authorities having to investigate and charge individuals for making false claims. This has led to disruptions in communities and pulled resources away from real investigations. Experts suggest assessing the legitimacy of threats based on the person’s access to guns.
Ultimately, making false violent threats is not a joke and can have serious legal consequences. Authorities urge individuals to think before posting online about violent acts and consider the potential impact of their words.
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