Man arrested 'for plot to firebomb US Embassy' after 'threatening Trump'
A 28-year-old man was arrested on Sunday at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport after authorities discovered his alleged plot to firebomb a U.S. Embassy branch office, the Justice Department revealed.
Joseph Neumayer, a dual American-German citizen, was also reportedly detained on May 19 following a heated confrontation with a security guard outside the embassy office in in Tel Aviv, Israel. Officials found three crude Molotov cocktails in a backpack he'd left behind.
The justice department also disclosed that before his arrest, Neumayer, 28, had posted a chilling message on social media: "Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f*** the west." He is also said to have made threats against the life of U.S. President Donald Trump. "The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law," U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated.
Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, also issued a stern warning. "This despicable and violent behaviour 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," he declared, reports the Mirror US.
"As alleged, Neumeyer, armed with potentially lethal devices, sought to cause chaos and destruction at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv," stated 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."
After being deported back to the States by Israeli authorities, Neumayer could face a 20-year stretch in the clink if found guilty, along with a hefty fine of up to $250,000. The DOJ has said that a "federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors."
The apprehension of Neumayer follows closely on the heels of a tragic incident where an Israeli couple were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. "The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple," lamented Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leite.
The fatal shooting took place around 9:08pm, as per police reports. The duo, a man and a woman, had just left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when they were caught in gunfire as the assailant targeted a group of four, revealed Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith during a press briefing.
Smith detailed the chilling events, saying: "We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody. Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum," adding, "He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents. After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security once in handcuffs. The suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered."
Elias Rodriguez, the man arrested for the attack, faces two counts of first-degree murder, while footage circulating on social media reveals him exclaiming "Free, free Palestine" as he was being apprehended.
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