COLUMBUS – A Columbus man was ordered held on $1 million bond on terrorism-related charges after reportedly making threats against a Jewish school where he worked as a security guard.
Thomas Develin was arrested Thursday morning by Columbus SWAT officers who executed a search warrant on the Northwest Side after the 24-year-old Ohio National Guard member posted “violent threats” on social media, Det. Christopher Betts of the Columbus police Counter Terrorism Unit said.
“The threats and content of the postings involved material expressing hatred against multiple religious and ethnic minority groups in Franklin County,” Betts wrote in a Division of Police media release.
According to media reports, Develin was employed as a security guard at the Columbus Torah Academy when he posted the threats and police were alerted to the activity by the Ohio National Guard.
“Individuals attempting to commit acts of terrorism deserve to be held accountable and all our diverse communities deserve safety and security. We stand united with residents of all faiths, especially the Jewish community today, in applauding the Torah Academy and Columbus Police for quick action against this violent threat,” Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin said in a statement.
Develin, who lived on Brentwood Circle, was charged with making terroristic threats, a felony, and arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court Friday, Betts said.