A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly making an attempt to firebomb the U.S. embassy department in Tel Aviv, Israel, earlier this month and making threats in opposition to President Trump, federal prosecutors mentioned Sunday.
Joseph Neumayer, who was born in Colorado and has U.S. and German citizenship, was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York Metropolis by FBI particular brokers after he was deported from Israel.
In accordance with the prosecutors, Neumayer traveled to Israel in April. On Could 19, he arrived on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv carrying a backpack. With out provocation, Neumayer allegedly spat at an embassy guard as he walked by and was in a position to flee because the guard tried to detain him. He left his backpack outdoors the embassy after the tussle.
A search of the backpack discovered three Molotov cocktails inside.
Native regulation enforcement tracked down the 28-year-old at his resort, the place he was arrested.
Ohad Zwigenberg / AP
Investigators discovered that earlier than he traveled to the embassy, Neumayer allegedly posted on social media: “be a part of me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Demise to America, dying to Individuals, and f***ok the west.” Authorities mentioned that Neumayer additionally posted threatening messages on social media concentrating on President Trump.
Israel deported Neumayer on Sunday.
After his arrest in New York Metropolis, Neumayer was charged with trying to destroy, by way of hearth or explosive, the U.S. Embassy. If convicted, he faces as much as 20 years in jail.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating assault concentrating on our embassy in Israel, threatening dying to Individuals, and President Trump’s life,” Lawyer Normal Pamela Bondi in an announcement. “The Division is not going to tolerate such violence and can prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the regulation.”
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned in an announcement that Neumayer’s alleged actions had been “despicable and violent” and “is not going to be tolerated at dwelling or overseas.”
