A dual citizen of the United States and Germany was arrested on Sunday in connection with an alleged plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities revealed—a case that has since drawn sharp attention from U.S. federal prosecutors.
Joseph Neumayer, 28, was detained by Israeli security forces after he was found near the embassy in Tel Aviv carrying a backpack allegedly containing explosive devices. Following his arrest and deportation, he was taken into custody by U.S. federal agents upon arrival at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
According to the Department of Justice, Neumayer appeared in federal court on Sunday and remains in custody pending further proceedings.
“This defendant is accused of orchestrating a potentially lethal attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility abroad and issuing threats not only against American citizens but also the life of former President Donald Trump,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Such acts of violence, especially those targeting our diplomatic corps, will be met with the full force of the law.”
Neumayer’s arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following a separate incident just days earlier, in which two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were fatally shot outside the Jewish Museum—a tragedy that has intensified scrutiny on threats to diplomatic missions.
Federal investigators say Neumayer arrived in Israel in April and made his way to the U.S. Embassy on May 19, carrying a dark-colored backpack. His behavior raised suspicions, leading to his arrest and the discovery of what officials described as improvised explosive materials.
Authorities have yet to reveal a clear motive or confirm whether Neumayer was acting alone. The case remains under active investigation, with both Israeli and American security agencies coordinating efforts to determine the full scope of the alleged plot.
The 28-year-old spat on an embassy guard as he walked by, the justice department said. When the guard tried to detain him, Mr Neumayer allegedly ran away, leaving behind a backpack with three Molotov cocktails, small bombs made with flammable liquids that are meant to start fires once they are lit and thrown.
Police later found Mr Neumeyer at his hotel where he was arrested, the justice department said.
Officials say he had posted on his social media account pledging to “burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv” and had called for “death to America, death to Americans”.
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Federal authorities have revealed that Joseph Neumayer, the dual U.S.-German national accused of plotting an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, also made online threats to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The threats were allegedly posted from a secondary social media account believed to be connected to him.
Neumayer, 28, was deported from Israel on Sunday after being apprehended near the embassy with what Israeli officials described as explosive materials concealed in a backpack. He was arrested upon arrival at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and has since been formally charged in the United States. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
“This is a deeply troubling case that underscores the growing complexity of international security threats,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are treating this with the full seriousness it deserves.”
The arrest coincides with rising tensions surrounding U.S.-Israeli diplomatic interests. Just days earlier, a tragic attack in Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of a young couple—Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim—outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
According to police reports, the couple was gunned down by Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old Chicago resident, who allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” before opening fire. Authorities are investigating potential ideological motives and whether the attack was premeditated.
In response to the growing concerns around diplomatic and domestic security, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to travel to Israel, where she will attend a memorial ceremony honoring Lischinsky and Milgrim. The visit signals a show of solidarity with Israel and the broader Jewish community at a time of heightened vulnerability.
Both incidents have reignited discussions around global extremism, online radicalization, and the need for stronger international cooperation in combating politically motivated violence. Investigations into Neumayer and Rodriguez remain ongoing.