A man identified as Joseph Neumayer was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sunday after allegedly attempting to firebomb a branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. The Justice Department confirmed the arrest in an official statement, detailing the charges against the 28-year-old dual American and German citizen.
According to the Justice Department, Neumayer was detained in Israel on May 19 following a hostile confrontation with a security guard outside the embassy. After this altercation, a search of a backpack he left behind revealed three rudimentary improvised incendiary devices, commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails.
In a chilling twist, Neumayer allegedly posted inflammatory messages on social media, including a call to action: “Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f--- the west.” He also made threats against former President Donald Trump, which have exacerbated concerns surrounding his motives and intentions.
The White House has yet to comment on the situation, but U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.” FBI Director Kash Patel echoed this sentiment, asserting that “this despicable and violent behavior will not be tolerated at home or abroad,” and emphasized the FBI's commitment to bringing Neumayer to justice.
If convicted, Neumayer could face a severe penalty of up to 20 years in prison. His arrest comes in the wake of heightened tensions following the tragic shooting of two staffers at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., just days earlier. The suspect in that incident, Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine” after his arrest. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shooting as a “horrifying antisemitic murder” in a statement following discussions with Trump.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges regarding threats to diplomatic missions and the serious nature of domestic and international terrorism. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications of Neumayer's actions will be closely monitored by both law enforcement and the public.
