Pulse Copycat Shootings Reportedly Thwarted in Several Locations

Barcelona is only the most recent threat of mass violence against LGBT people following the June tragedy.

The Pulse shooting has a number of admirers, who have all so far been stopped by authorities.

Spanish police arrested a man on Saturday who they say was planning a Pulse copycat killing in Barcelona — a mass shooting that could have cost dozens more lives. After the June attack, the 36-year old suspect allegedly used his social media account to encourage further violence against the LGBT community. He also posted videos to YouTube that showed him firing a pistol loaded with blanks, as China’s Xinhua News reports. Those clips — 31 in total — have since been removed.

In the videos, the suspect boasted that the attack would take place in 13 days — a date which happens to coincide with the annual Bear Week in Sitges, a popular gay enclave located just over 40 miles from Barcelona.

Should the detainee be convicted of criminal intent, he could face between one to four years behind bars.

This is only one of the numerous threats of copycat killings that have been reported in the wake of Pulse. Forty-nine people were gunned down by a lone shooter at the Florida nightclub, while an additional 53 were injured.

Two unnamed men were widely reported to have been deported from France to Morocco, and PinkNews reported this month that they were planning an attack on a gay club on behalf of ISIS.

In June, a disorderly patron of Happyfun Hideaway, a gay bar in Brooklyn, was booted from the establishment and allegedly promised to seek retribution. “I’m going to shoot this place up and get my fifty just like Orlando, Florida,” 40-year old Justin Rice reportedly said. “I’m going to come back Orlando-style!”

Rice faces charges of assault and aggravated harassment.

Multiple bars and colleges in New York have been targeted with similar threats, as the New York Post reports. These include New York University, Monster Bar, and Boxers NYC. A man phoned the latter and threatened to “stand outside… and use f****ts as target practice.”

Most recently, a Florida man threatened to “exterminate” the LGBT community over Labor Day weekend. Craig Jungwirth, 50, publicized the planned attack in a series of Facebook posts.

“None of you deserve to live,” wrote Jungwirth, a former organizer of South Florida’s Beach Bear Weekend. “If you losers thought the Pulse nightclub shooting was bad, wait till you see what I'm planning for Labor Day.”

“It's time to clean up Wilton Manors from all you AIDS infested losers,” he continued.

According to the Associated Press, Jungwirth — who was taken into custody last week — could face a federal charge for transmitting threatening communications. His first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.