Joseph Neumayer was apprehended at JFK Airport after allegedly planning to firebomb the U.S. Embassy in Israel. His arrest arrives amid heightened tensions exemplified by the recent shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in D.C., highlighting escalating threats against American officials abroad.
U.S. Man Arrested for Allegedly Attempting to Firebomb Embassy in Israel
U.S. Man Arrested for Allegedly Attempting to Firebomb Embassy in Israel
A dual citizen faces federal charges for plotting an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, following recent violence in Washington D.C.
In a significant security incident, Joseph Neumayer, a dual U.S. and German citizen, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly attempting to ignite a firebomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. Neumayer, 28, was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York after being deported by Israeli authorities who discovered explosive devices in his possession. He appeared in court on Sunday where he remains in federal custody.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, "This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump's life." The arrest coincides with a troubling backdrop of violence, including a recent shooting that left two Israeli embassy staff members dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C.
Federal officials have indicated that Neumayer entered Israel in April, and he allegedly approached the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on May 19 with a dark backpack. During this encounter, he reportedly spat on an embassy guard and fled, abandoning a backpack containing three Molotov cocktails—a type of incendiary device designed to ignite upon being thrown.
Subsequent investigation led police to Neumayer's hotel room where he was apprehended, and it was noted that he had made explicit threats online, stating intentions to "burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv" and calling for "death to America, death to Americans." Additionally, authorities are examining connections to threats against President Trump made through other social media channels.
Neumayer returned to the U.S. on Sunday, where federal charges were filed against him, potentially leading to a maximum sentence of 20 years if he is convicted. The situation reflects a growing concern over threats against U.S. officials abroad, particularly in the wake of the tragic shooting incident involving two Israeli embassy workers in Washington D.C. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to participate in a memorial in Israel for the victims of that attack, further underscoring the security challenges facing American diplomats and officials.
