Wilmington man charged with threatening to burn down Roxbury mosque

Patrick Keogan, 44, is scheduled for arraignment in federal court today on charges he left a threat on the Islamic Society of Boston's Facebook page to burn the Roxbury mosque to the ground, the US Attorney's office reports.

It's the second time in a little over a year that somebody has been charged with threatening violence against the mosque. Last year, an Iowa man six months' home confinement after leaving threatening messages on the mosque's Facebook page, one implying he would come out here and shoot members.

According to the US Attorney's office:

Keogan posted on the ISBCC’s Facebook page an image depicting a mosque in flames with lettering superimposed that stated “Burn your local mosque,” along with the statement “Hello scumbags,” next to a smiley face emoji. Keogan allegedly posted the same threatening image on the Facebook page of the Islamic Society of Northeastern University (ISNU).

The US Attorney's office says Keogan had been doing this sort of thing for several years:

Through a warrant authorizing a search of Keogan's Facebook account, law enforcement investigators found posts that approved burning mosques as early as 2013. For example, in 2013 Keogan shared a post with the following summary: "On July 4th, Joplin, Missouri's Islamic Center - the city's only mosque - suffered roof damage after an unidentified man set it on fire by tossing a burning object onto the building." Keogan wrote in response: "Somewhere out there is an unknown hero. The people's champion. A true God amongst mortal men. May your days be many & troubles be few my good man." On or about Nov. 17, 2015, Keogan posted a status update saying, "Canada enters the Mosque Burning Winter Olympics of 2016 early! Who will take the Gold? Who will take the Silver? and WHO will take the Bronze??? We'll have to wait til the snow clears to find out folks but lets keep our fingers crossed for some fierce competition! And remember- you (yes you) are a qualified competitor of your own nation - so get out there and help your Country be number one in this winter's Mosque Burning Olympics!"

But, wait, there's more. The US Attorney's office says Keogan is also facing arraignment on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition:

Keogan's Facebook account also showed that, despite his statutory prohibition as a convicted felon from possessing firearms and ammunition, Keogan continued to buy, sell, trade, build, modify, possess and shoot firearms and ammunition. After obtaining a warrant to place a GPS tracking device on Keogan’s car, federal agents tracked Keogan to a gun store in New Hampshire on or about May 1, 2016. Keogan allegedly purchased two boxes of 8mm rifle ammunition and two bags of loose 8mm rifle ammunition, and then drove the ammunition directly back to his residence in Wilmington.

He faces up to ten years in federal prison.

Innocent, etc.