MD Woman Threatened To Blow Up Churches, Pastor: Fire Marshal

HAGERSTOWN, MD — A western Maryland woman is in custody after authorities said she threatened to blow up churches in the Hagerstown area, and said one pastor would be blown into "itty bitty pieces."

Salamah Bassem Audi, 35, of Hagerstown was arrested after she made online threats against churches in the community, according to a news release from the Maryland State Fire Marshal.

Salamah Bassem Audi, 35, was arrested Saturday after investigators were notified of multiple threats made against Gateway Experience Church in Williamsport, The City of God in Hagerstown, and the church's pastors last week. Investigators described the threatening messages as written in an online blog.

Hagerstown fire marshals learned of another threat posted on the blog as they investigated the earlier posts. In the message, the suspect threatened to blow up the pastor of a Hagerstown house of worship while he was on his way to his car, the news release from the fire marshal said.

Investigators linked the blog to Audi, obtained an arrest warrant, and with help from the Hagerstown Police Department, she was arrested without incident.

Audi was charged with two counts of arson threat, and one count of threat of mass violence, the fire marshal said.

After appearing before a judge, Audi is being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.