An American man was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport for plotting to bomb the US embassy in Israel.
Joseph Neumayer, a 28-year-old dual United States and German citizen, was charged with attempting to destroy, by means of fire or explosive, the Branch Office of the United States Embassy located in Tel Aviv, according to the Justice Department.
He arrived in Israel in April, then was detain after spitting on a security guard outside the embassy on May 19.
The Justice Department said Neumeyer broke free from the guard, but left behind his dark-colored backpack.
Investigators found three Molotov cocktails inside his bag then tracked him down to his hotel and arrested him.
‘A tourist was arrested in Tel Aviv after allegedly spitting at a guard at the US Embassy branch office and is suspected of leaving behind a bag with flammable materials while attempting to flee,’ Israel police said.
‘Police and municipal personnel quickly located and arrested the suspect. Police bomb squad arrived to clear the bag and found potential Molotov cocktail components.’
According to court documents, Neumeyer posted on social media earlier that day, ‘Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f**k the west.’
Joseph Neumayer (pictured), 28, was arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb the US embassy in Israel
Investigators found three Molotov cocktails inside his bag outside of the embassy (pictured) then tracked him down to his hotel and arrested him
Other social media post alleged showed he had also threatened to assassinate Donald Trump.
Israeli officials deported Neumeyer back to the United States, and he was arrested at the New York airport on Sunday.
‘This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,’ said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
‘The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.’
If convicted, Neumeyer faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
‘As alleged, Neumeyer, armed with potentially lethal devices, sought to cause chaos and destruction at the U.S.Embassy in Tel Aviv,’ said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella for the Eastern District of New York.
‘His arrest and prosecution clearly show that my Office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting U.S. interests abroad.’
‘The defendant is charged with attempting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy and making threats to President Trump,’ said FBI Director Kash Patel.
Neumeyer (pictured) allegedly posted on social media earlier that day, ‘Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f**k the west’
He arrived in Israel in April, then was detain after spitting on a security guard outside the embassy (pictured) on May 19
He was arrested at the New York airport (pictured) on Sunday after being deported from Israel
‘This 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.’
Neumeyer’s arrest comes just days after a gunman shot dead a young Israeli couple in Washington DC.
Elias Rodriguez, 31, shouted ‘Free Palestine’ after he killed the couple as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening.
Rodriguez allegedly published a manifesto which claimed: ‘Public opinion has shifted against the genocidal apartheid state, and the American government has simply shrugged, they’ll do without public opinion then, criminalize it where they can, suffocate it with bland reassurances that they’re doing all they can to restrain Israel where it cannot criminalize protest outright.’
