ONEONTA, N.Y. — A planned motorcycle ride by a group calling itself American Bikers United Against Jihad to the Muslim community of Islamberg has drawn the concern of local law enforcement officials. 

A promotional video for the event as well as information posted on social media by American Bikers United Against Jihad asserts that Islamberg, New York, a hamlet of mostly African-American Muslims living near the Pennsylvania border, is one of between 22 and 35 jihadist training compounds within the United States.

The group has been using Facebook, YouTube and other websites to encourage participation in the May 15 event, billing it as a “Ride for National Security.”

That claim is a direct contradiction with assurances from law enforcement officials that there is no known evidence of any paramilitary training taking place at Islamberg.

State Police Bureau of Investigation Capt. William McEvoy confirmed that local law enforcement has become aware of the ride plans but said he could not comment further.

“Anything that justifies a concern, we look into, whether it’s Islamberg or any other community,” the captain said Monday.

Tahirah Clark, an attorney for Muslims of America, said the group is “aware of the biker rally and we have been in contact with law enforcement authorities.”

She said the assertions by the biker group that Islamberg is a training site for those aspiring to wage jihad is consistent with “the false statements that are prevalent on the Internet. It’s untrue.”

The planned ride comes less than a year after Islamberg attracted national attention after Robert Doggart, a former Tennessee independent congressional candidate, was arrested for planning an attack on the community. Authorities say Doggart told an FBI informant in a wiretapped conversation that his plans for the assault included “500 rounds of ammunition, light armor piercing. A pistol with three extra magazines, and a machete. And if it gets down to the machete, we will cut them to shreds.”

Doggart pleaded not guilty to one charge of solicitation to commit a civil rights violation and has been named in a civil lawsuit filed by Muslims of America Inc. recently in U.S. District Court in Binghamton, New York.

But an organizer of the motorcycle ride, Rami Libranicki, identifying himself as a co-founder of American Bikers United Against Jihad, sought to put distance between the organization and Doggart.

“…There is absolutely no comparable parallel between our peaceful objective for the ride and his criminal conduct,” Libranicki said in an email to The Oneonta, New York Daily Star after he was contacted via an email address being used in promotional information for the May 15 event.

“We have been extremely clear in our promotion of the ride that our sole purpose is educational only, and we do not condone infringing upon anyone’s rights whatsoever,” Libranicki added.

Muslims of America, in announcing the lawsuit against Doggart, noted that 2015 was “a violent year for American Muslims amid increased Islamophobia,” pointing out Islamberg was “targeted in two separate incidents by hateful right wing domestic terrorists.”

The second incident involving Islamberg was a video posting on social media last year by conservative activist Jon Ritzheimer, who criticized the community while brandishing a handgun. Ritzheimer was released from custody last month after being arrested in connection with the months-long occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge.

Ritzheimer has not been charged in connection with the video in which he discussed Islamberg.

In a March 21 statement, Muslims of America declared: “We must use all legal means available to stop the terrorization of people based on their faiths for any reason.”

Muslims of America describes itself as a population of primarily African-American Sunni Muslims. The group says it has a long history of fighting against disinformation about its activities.

Following the terrorist attack on various sites in Paris last November, the head of Muslims of America, Hussein Adams, issued a statement declaring his group has no affiliation with the Islamic State and condemned its activities.

“Muslims are not terrorists, we are the No. 1 victims of terrorists,” Adams said then. “Muslims are being slaughtered by these people who are perpetrating their devastation in the name of Islam in order to instigate chaos in the world. And yet, here at home in America, Islamophobes are wasting time harassing American Muslims who have not harmed anyone. The American Muslim community has co-existed here peacefully for decades.”

The information released by the American Bikers group does not discuss any specific plans for what would take place once the ride participants arrive at Islamberg.

Meanwhile, representatives of Muslims of America are planning a press conference in Binghamton on Wednesday to discuss the group’s civil lawsuit against Doggart and others linked to the alleged plot against Islamberg.

Mahoney writes for the Oneonta, New York Daily Star. The Associated Press contributed to this report.