Man arrested for threatening attack at Bay Area church, sheriff’s office says

(KRON) — A Bay Area man was arrested Friday for allegedly threatening to attack someone at an upcoming church event in Millbrae.

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputies began investigating the alleged threats at 8:40 a.m. Friday, and identified the suspect as 50-year-old Alexi El Kadi of Belmont. Using social media, El Kadi allegedly threatened to attack a specific person during an event scheduled for Aug. 31 at the Our Lady of Lebanon Church on the 600 block of El Camino Real in Millbrae.

“The investigation began after a concerned resident reported a social media post by El Kadi who made specific criminal threats against a member of Our Lady of Lebanon Church,” the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said. “The reporting individual also stated that El Kadi had a history of harassment toward an organizer at the church, resulting in sustained fear and concern for attendee safety.”

Deputies arrested El Kadi at his Belmont home. Officials placed a gun violence restraining order on El Kadi, prohibiting him from owning or using a gun.

El Kadi was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility for a criminal threats charge. He is being held on $50,000 bail. The investigation is ongoing.

“Threats against anyone representing a place of worship is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in San Mateo County,” San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus said in a statement. “I am thankful for the community member that alerted our office allowing us to quickly take the suspect into custody, keeping our community safe.”