American charged with plot to throw Molotov cocktails at US embassy office in Israel
An American man was arrested Sunday after allegedly plotting to throw Molotov cocktails at a branch office of the U.S. embassy in Israel, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Officials arrested the man, 28-year-old Joseph Neumayer, at John F. Kennedy airport in New York after being deported from Israel to the U.S., according to a Justice Department .
The DOJ says Neumayer, who is also a German citizen, had allegedly arrived at the U.S. embassy office in Tel Aviv on May 19 and spat on an embassy guard without provocation.
Neumayer managed to break free as the guard attempted to detain him, leaving behind his backpack, the DOJ said, citing a complaint.
Guards found three Molotov cocktails in the backpack, the department said. Law enforcement tracked down Neumayer to his hotel in Israel, where he was arrested.
Authorities searched Neumayer鈥檚 social media, which allegedly included a post from earlier that day that said 鈥渏oin me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv.鈥� His page also allegedly included the phrases, 鈥淒eath to America, death to Americans鈥� and threats to assassinate President Donald Trump.
鈥淭his defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump鈥檚 life,鈥� said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: 鈥淭his despicable and violent behavior will not be tolerated at home or abroad, and the FBI, working with our partners, will bring him to face justice for his dangerous actions.鈥�
Neumayer had allegedly arrived in Israel last month. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to the Justice Department.
The revelation of Neumayer鈥檚 charges comes shortly after the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. The killings are being investigated as an act of terrorism after the man suspected of carrying out the shooting yelled 鈥淔ree Palestine鈥� and told law enforcement he 鈥渄id it for Gaza,鈥� according to police.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in Israel over the weekend meeting with senior government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the wake of the shooting.
