An American citizen was charged with attempting to firebomb a U.S. Embassy branch office in Israel, the Justice Department announced on Sunday.
Joseph Neumeyer, a 28-year-old German citizen, was discovered last week outside the embassy office in Tel Aviv carrying a backpack containing multiple Molotov cocktails, according to federal prosecutors.
He is charged with attempting to destroy, by means of fire or explosive, the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. stated, “As claimed, Neumeyer, armed with potentially lethal devices, aimed to create chaos and damage at the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv.”
Neumeyer reportedly approached the building and spat at a guard. When the guard tried to detain him, Neumeyer cursed before running away, abandoning his backpack in the process.
Authorities recovered several bottles inside the bag that had been turned into improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as “Molotov cocktails,” which contained a flammable fluid, prosecutors said. Officers with the Israeli National Police, including members of an explosive ordinance disposal team, were called to the scene in order to render the Molotov cocktails safe, prosecutors said.
No one was harmed during the incident.
File photo of the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv. (JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
“Neumeyer not only made threats against Americans and U.S. diplomatic missions, but also allegedly attempted to carry out those threats by bringing potentially deadly devices to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen. “Let his arrest carry an unmistakable message: The FBI and our partners will aggressively pursue those who attempt to harm U.S. citizens and interests abroad.”
Neumeyer was found at a hotel where he was staying and placed under arrest. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Neumeyer’s attorney with the federal public defenders office for comment on the matter.
