A dual U.S.-German citizen was charged Sunday in federal court in Brooklyn with attempting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Joseph Neumeyer, 28, was arrested by Israeli police on May 19 after approaching the embassy with a backpack, spitting on a guard, and fleeing the scene, leaving behind a bag containing three incendiary devices commonly known as Molotov cocktails, according to court documents.
His social media revealed that on the same day, Neumeyer posted online: “Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America, death to Americans, and f— the West.”
Additional posts from a social media account believed to belong to Neumeyer included threats to assassinate President Donald Trump.
Neumeyer was located and arrested at his hotel in Tel Aviv. He was deported to the United States and turned over to FBI agents on May 25.
According to the DOJ, Neumeyer made his first appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and was ordered held without bail. He faces federal charges for attempting to destroy U.S. government property with fire or explosives.
“This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a press release. “The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
“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,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
If convicted, Neumeyer faces five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Neumeyer’s case emerges just days after two staffers from the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum.