Israeli Police have arrested a suspect this morning in the investigation into a series of bomb threats at Jewish institutions across the globe.
A 19-year-old dual US-Israeli citizen from Ashkelon, Israel, has been arrested on suspicion of extortion by threats and publishing false reports, causing fear and panic around the world, Israeli Police said.
The arrest of the suspect was made possible at the end of an international covert investigation, in cooperation with FBI representatives who arrived in Israel, as well as other police organizations from all over the world, they said.
The suspect used complex methods to shield himself from identification, and law enforcement had to use a variety of their own complex methods to find him.
The suspect was arrested this morning and at the end of a search and seizure of the technological means in his possession. He was brought for questioning at the unit’s offices, and in the afternoon he will be brought to a hearing at the Rishon LeZion.
There are still few details available about the suspect’s profile, but he is not in the IDF, not ultra-Orthodox, and at some point made aliya and possibly has psychological and social problems.
The suspect’s father has also been detained and is being questioned as to whether he knew about the suspect’s activities, including the suspect’s use of a large antenna and other unusual hardware which could have drawn suspicion.
The FBI, US Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies had been investigating the threats, but until now had yet to charge anyone with committing the vast majority of them.
Since January, more than 100 JCCs and other institutions have received bomb threats, including the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights.
Devorah Halberstam, Director of Foundations and Government Services for the Jewish Children’s Museum, told COLlive, “Law enforcement has not informed us whether the latest arrest included the threat on the Jewish Children’s Museum.
“I am very proud of the response of the NYPD, FBI and international law enforcement agencies, who worked together to make this arrest.
“This still does not address the desecration of the cemeteries and the Swastikas that have been painted in different parts of the country, here in America and around the world, which is indicative of the fact that Anti-Semitism still exists today, and we as Jews continue to be targets,” she said.
“We are grateful to our local police and international law enforcement partners for tracking down and arresting a suspect connected to the recent wave of threats against Jewish institutions,” Mayor said.
“Whatever their source, those threats were an assault on our values and our people. As the proud home of the world’s largest Jewish community, New York City will always stand ready to face down intolerance and stand up for our persecuted neighbors. History teaches us that we can never be indifferent to the scourge of anti-Semitism, and we can never take lightly threats fueled by hate.”
Even the people who hate Jews don’t deny that there is hate for the Jews
Because he made aliya (seemingly with his family), he is almost certainly Jewish. Yes, the article mentioned he is possibly suffering from a psychological or social illness.
I’m #8 was able to turn this into some long awaited trump praise.
israeli suspect, he is either not jewish (being israeli does not make you jewish)
or he is mentally ill or psycholocally ill (being israeli does not make you normal)
I hope you will apologize and admit your shame.
He is ALLEGED to have used advanced method to shield his identity. He is entitled to his day in court.
Really strange, his father didn’t know what he was up to?
wow shocking news I thought a threat bombs was from Palestinians or Muslim or African Americans wow Israeli teen that’s shocking news
what does one thing have to do with the other? your comments are infantile. this creature caused terror amongst thousands of Jews…finding him was by the grace of Hashem & shows the effort the agencies went to BH…too shocking
I do not believe there is a single human alive who denies that there is hate for jews except for people what hate jews which is super duper ironic.
I did not see that one coming. Will he be extradited to the US? Can they send Mondrowitz & Weinberg back at the same time so THEY can stand trial for their crimes?
what about all the swastikas in the subways, and all over the world did he do that as well? there IS hate out for Jews. etc. It was not only one boy.