Horsham Man Sentenced to Prison For Posting Bomb Threat To Willow Grove Mall

Willow Grove Park Mall.

A 24-year-old man, David Barnhouse of Horsham, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for posting a bomb threat on the Willow Grove Park Mall’s website on June 20, 2013, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia announced. According to its indictment, Barnhouse hacked into his neighbor’s wireless router to post the threat, which read:

“We have planted an explosive device somewhere in the mall, and will detonate it unless all members of the Islamic faith imprisoned in the United States are freed by 7pm on June 23.  Even if you search the mall for 72 consecutive hours, you will NEVER find it. Do not attempt to defuse the bomb, find the bomb, or interact with authorities on this matter, except those capable of freeing our brothers.”

Barnhouse will also serve three years of supervised release, and will pay restitution to the mall for the costs of its increased security measures, which included FBI presence.