Police detain Nerdeen Kiswani, an organizer of pro-Palestinian demonstration group “Within Our Lifetime” during a protest on Friday, April 12, 2024, in New York.
Yuki Iwamura/AP
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Yuki Iwamura/AP
NEW YORK — Authorities have arrested a man accused of plotting to firebomb the residence of Nerdeen Kiswani, a prominent Palestinian activist. This arrest comes after a lengthy undercover investigation by the New York City Police Department, officials announced on Friday.
The intended target, Nerdeen Kiswani, is known for leading protests in New York against Israel and the conflict in Gaza through her organization, Within Our Lifetime.
Kiswani, 31, revealed that law enforcement had alerted her late Thursday about thwarting “a threat on my life that was about to take place.”
Federal officials reported that Alexander Heifler was arrested on Thursday at his Hoboken, New Jersey home while preparing Molotov cocktails intended for Kiswani’s residence. He had spent weeks discussing the plan with an undercover NYPD officer who infiltrated a group chat Heifler used, a police spokesperson confirmed.
An official briefed on the investigation noted that Heifler, 26, is associated with the JDL 613 Brotherhood, a New Jersey group established in 2024 that identifies its members as “Jewish warriors” combating antisemitism.
The group’s website cites inspiration from the original Jewish Defense League, which was linked to various bombings and attempted assassinations of Arab American political figures in the 1970s and 1980s.
Heifler intended to escape to Israel after the attack, the official added, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation’s details.
Attempts to contact JDL 613 via email went unanswered.
Kiswani, who resides in Brooklyn with her husband and infant son, stated that the plot would not deter her activism.
“I feel very blessed that they were able to thwart this, but it’s something that is a constant possibility for people who speak up on behalf of Palestine,” she stated.
Heifler faces charges in a criminal complaint for making and possessing destructive devices, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. His attorney did not respond to messages. He made an initial court appearance in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.
“Let me be clear: We will not tolerate violent extremism in our city,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared. “No one should face violence for their political beliefs or their advocacy. I am relieved that Nerdeen is safe.”
According to an FBI agent’s court filing, Heifler discussed his interest in “self-defense” training and seeking a place to use Molotov cocktails during a video call in February with a group that included an undercover detective.
The following day, he met the undercover officer to talk about using the cocktails against Kiswani and fleeing the country. “We have (Kiswani’s) address,” Heifler allegedly told the undercover officer. “So it’s like that, that would be easier if you’d be more comfortable with that.”
Heifler and the undercover officer drove to Kiswani’s home on March 4 to conduct surveillance and discussed making a dozen Molotov cocktails for her residence and two cars parked outside, according to the complaint.
On Thursday, the undercover officer met Heifler at his Hoboken home, where Heifler had the necessary components for Molotov cocktails, including a large bottle of Everclear, a highly flammable alcohol. Law enforcement then executed a search warrant and seized eight Molotov cocktails from the residence, as stated in the complaint.
Kiswani co-founded Within Our Lifetime, which frequently organizes large protests against Israel, often resulting in arrests. The group’s calls to “abolish Zionism” and endorsement of “all forms of struggle,” including violence, have sparked significant criticism. Kiswani refutes claims that her criticisms of Israel are antisemitic.
Kiswani has been a frequent target of online criticism. Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, drew backlash for a social media post stating, “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” This was a response to a message Kiswani posted about dog owners, which she described as a joke.
“That hate against Palestinians has been bolstered by public officials, by Zionist organizations, who are never held accountable,” she remarked. “This is the inevitable result of that.”
The operation was conducted by the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism unit of the NYPD’s counterterrorism bureau, according to a police spokesperson.
“This is exactly how our intelligence and counterterrorism operation is designed to work — a sophisticated apparatus built to detect danger early and prevent violence before it reaches our streets,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated.
