US-German man arrested for planning to bomb American embassy in Tel Aviv
A dual US-German citizen has been arrested on charges of attempting to bomb a branch office of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, federal officials said. The suspect, Joseph Neumayer, 28, was deported by Israeli authorities and taken into custody by FBI agents at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on Sunday.FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest and vowed justice, saying, "Joining our partners, I can confirm that today FBI agents arrested Joseph Neumayer, a dual US and German citizen, on allegations of planning to firebomb the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel - as well as threats made against President Trump's life on social media."According to the Department of Justice, Neumayer, who is originally from Colorado, the US, travelled to Israel in April. After a run-in with an embassy guard, he left the dark backpack he was carrying when he arrived at the US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv on May 19. Three improvised incendiary devices, also referred to as Molotov cocktails, were discovered inside the bag.advertisementAuthorities say Neumayer "spit on an Embassy guard" and fled when the guard attempted to arrest him. He was arrested later that day at a nearby hotel.
The US Department of Justice noted that Neumayer had been actively posting violent threats online. One message, shared just hours before the incident, read, "Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f**k the West."Moreover, investigators connected him to posts that threatened to kill President Donald Trump. The complaint that was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn included these threats on social media.US Attorney Joseph Nocella stated, "As alleged, Neumayer, armed with potentially lethal devices, sought to cause chaos and destruction at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. His arrest and prosecution clearly show that my Office and the Department of Justice will not tolerate violence in our homeland or violence targeting US interests abroad."KASH PATEL, DOJ STRESS ZERO TOLERANCEadvertisementAttorney General Pamela Bondi and other top US law enforcement officials have responded to the case. Bondi said, "This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump's life. The department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law."
Patel stated that the suspect will face justice. In a post on X, he wrote, "Neumayer was arrested earlier this week in Israel when Embassy officials discovered a backpack carrying multiple explosive devices and a social media account allegedly linked to Neumayer detailing intent to attack the Embassy and threatening President Trump.""Israel returned him to the US as of this morning, where our special agents arrested him at John F. Kennedy airport. He will now face justice. Thank you to our agents, intelligence teams and partners both at home and around the world for your work in this case," he wrote.The DOJ also acknowledged the coordination of the investigation and deportation by the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the FBI's Washington and New York Field Offices, and the FBI Legal Attach's Office in Israel.If convicted, Neumayer will face a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, along with a USD 250,000 fine.
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