Refrain from Orchestrating a Norwegian Murder Prank in a Fantasy Football Group Chat in the US
### Fantasy Football Turned Sour: The Risks of Online Group Chats and Fabricated Threats
Philadelphia, a city famed for its enthusiastic sports supporters, has experienced its share of football-related uproar. From oiling light poles to deter fans from climbing them post-victory to the notorious “Go Birds!” chants, the city’s affection for the sport is irrefutable. Nevertheless, one Philadelphia resident, Matthew Gabriel, escalated his football obsession to a shocking and hazardous extreme, transforming a mere fantasy football group chat into a federal offense.
#### The Event: A Fantasy Football Feud Intensifies
Matthew Gabriel, a 25-year-old hailing from Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy area, actively participated in a fantasy football group chat. Like many sports enthusiasts, Gabriel enjoyed light-hearted exchanges and rivalry with other chat members. However, for reasons that remain vague, Gabriel became furious with another participant, a student at the University of Iowa, and opted for extreme measures.
In August 2023, while the student was studying abroad in Norway, Gabriel reached out to the Norwegian police via an online tip form, falsely asserting that the student was plotting a mass shooting in Oslo. His communication was detailed and alarming, outlining a supposed scheme to target a concert and a department store. Gabriel’s tip included:
> “On August 15th a man named [student’s name] is headed around Oslo and has a shooting planned with multiple people on his side involved. They plan to take as many as they can at a concert and then head to a department store. I don’t know any more people than that, I just can’t have random people dying on my conscience.”
The Norwegian police, along with U.S. authorities, took the threat seriously. Countless hours were dedicated to investigating the claim, only to find out that the entire incident was fabricated. When confronted by the FBI, Gabriel confessed to concocting the tale.
#### A Second Fabrication: The Bomb Scare
Despite the severity of his actions, Gabriel didn’t stop there. In March 2024, he further escalated matters by submitting another false report. This time, he emailed officials at the University of Iowa, alleging that the same student was plotting to bomb the school. Gabriel’s email stated:
> “Hello, I saw this in a group chat I’m in and just want to make sure everyone is safe and fine. I don’t want anything bad to happen to anybody. Thank you. A man named
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