A man was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sunday following an alleged attempt to firebomb a branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from the Justice Department. The suspect, identified as Joseph Neumeyer, is a dual American and German citizen. He was previously detained in Israel on May 19 after a hostile confrontation where he reportedly spat on a security guard outside the embassy.
During this incident, the security guard attempted to detain Neumeyer but was unsuccessful, allowing him to escape after discarding a backpack he had been carrying. A subsequent search of the abandoned backpack revealed three rudimentary improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as Molotov cocktails, as stated by the Justice Department.
Authorities tracked Neumeyer to his hotel, where he was arrested. In addition to the incendiary devices, the Justice Department disclosed that Neumeyer had made inflammatory posts on social media. One such post read, “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, alarming law enforcement.
Neumeyer, 28, claims in his social media profiles, which have been verified by NBC News, to be the founder and CEO of a company called Atlas Light Co. The nature of the company remains unclear, and he has purportedly founded several startups. Recent postings on social media indicate his growing discontent with the West, particularly targeting the U.S. and Trump.
After arriving in Israel last month, it remains unclear what Neumeyer was doing in the country prior to his visit to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on May 19. The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding this incident.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.” FBI Director Kash Patel echoed these sentiments, declaring, “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.”
Following his deportation to the U.S. by Israeli authorities, Neumeyer could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years if convicted. His arrest occurred just days after the tragic shooting of two staffers from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, who were killed after leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The shooter, Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Eyewitness videos from the scene show Rodriguez shouting “Free, free Palestine” following his arrest, drawing significant media attention.
In response to the incidents, former President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke the day after the shooting, with Netanyahu condemning the act as a “horrifying antisemitic murder.” The ongoing investigation into both cases highlights the rising tensions and security concerns surrounding U.S. diplomatic missions abroad.
