Federal agents arrested a U.S.-German dual citizen Sunday who is accused of attempting to fire bomb a U.S. Embassy office in Israel.
Joseph Neumeyer, 28, was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City after officials in Israel returned him to the United States. His arrest came days after a gunman killed two staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington.
Federal prosecutors said Mr. Neumeyer was carrying a dark-colored backpack on May 19 outside a U.S. Embassy office in Tel Aviv. He spat on an embassy guard while walking past and left his backpack during the struggle before fleeing.
A search of the backpack revealed three containers filled with flammable liquids, commonly known as Molotov cocktails. Police tracked Mr. Neumeyer to his hotel, where he was arrested.
“Neumeyer’s social media revealed that earlier in the day on May 19, he posted, ‘Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f–k the west,” the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.
Federal prosecutors also uncovered social media posts reportedly made by Mr. Neumeyer that revealed threats to assassinate President Trump, officials said.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening the death of Americans, and President Trump’s life,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
Mr. Neumeyer faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, officials said.
