A Rosslyn Farms man is accused of making threats online to kill Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. and others and threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction.
Scott Township police arrested Joshua J. Thompson, 46, on Monday. He was denied bail at an arraignment early Tuesday and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.
In a criminal complaint, a Scott Township police officer said he reviewed Thompson’s YoutTube channel about 4 p.m. Monday.
Police said Thompson has used YouTube to make numerous threats in the past requiring police intervention.
Police said they discovered that from Nov. 1 through Nov. 5, Thompson threatened to kill Zappala, an attorney, and the Scott police officer.
Police said Thompson also had two videos up explaining how to make a concussion bomb out of a 2-liter bottle, calling it “a really effective tool” if placed in a busy marketplace. Police said he encouraged others to inflict mass casualties in populated areas.
Thompson did not have an attorney listed in court records.
Thompson is charged with a felony count of terroristic threats and a misdemeanor charge of threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 22.
