A U.S.-German citizen, Joseph Neumeyer, was arrested for attempting to firebomb the U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to federal prosecutors in New York.
Neumeyer approached the embassy building on May 19 with Molotov cocktails in his backpack but fled after a confrontation with a guard, dropping his backpack in the process.
Law enforcement located Neumeyer at a nearby hotel and apprehended him. The incident occurred amidst Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The 28-year-old, originally from Colorado with dual U.S. and German citizenship, had traveled from the U.S. to Canada before arriving in Israel in late April. Prior to the attack, he had posted threatening messages on social media.
Israeli authorities deported Neumeyer to New York, where he appeared in court before a federal judge. His court-appointed attorney, Jeff Dahlberg, declined to comment on the case.
During his presidency, Donald Trump controversially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated the U.S. Embassy to the city, a move criticized by Palestinians.