A dual U.S.-German national was arrested in New York after being deported from Israel for attempting a firebomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Watan-U.S. authorities have arrested a dual American-German citizen accused of attempting to carry out a Molotov cocktail attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Sunday.
The suspect, Joseph Neumeier, 28, was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York following his deportation from Israel, where he had been detained in connection with the incident.
According to court documents, Neumeier, a resident of Colorado, arrived in Israel in April and, on May 19, headed to the U.S. Embassy building in Tel Aviv carrying a dark-colored backpack. Eyewitnesses reported that he spat on a security guard and hurled insults at him. When the guard attempted to detain him, Neumeier fled the scene, leaving the backpack behind.
Molotov Threats, Online Incitement, and a Foiled Embassy Attack: Neumeier Faces Federal Charges
Israeli authorities later found three homemade Molotov cocktails inside the bag, containing flammable liquid, prompting a manhunt that led to his arrest at a hotel five blocks from the embassy.
Investigations revealed that Neumeier had posted on social media earlier that day: “Join me in burning down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and to hell with the West.” Additional posts attributed to him contained threats against former U.S. President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk.
Commenting on the case, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “The defendant was plotting a destructive attack against a U.S. diplomatic facility, endangering American lives and threatening a former president. The Department of Justice will not tolerate this type of violence and will seek the harshest penalties under the law,” as reported by The Hill.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the act, affirming that “this violent and hateful behavior will not be ignored, whether inside the U.S. or abroad,” and emphasized that Neumeier will be “brought to justice in coordination with our partners.”
Meanwhile, Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella stated that Neumeier “sought to sow chaos and destruction at a critical U.S. diplomatic site,” adding that “his arrest and prosecution send a clear message: violence against U.S. interests will not be tolerated anywhere.”
If convicted, Neumeier faces a prison sentence ranging from five to 25 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
