The suspect, Andrew Heifler, was arrested as he was assembling Molotov cocktails to throw at activist Nerdeen Kiswani's home. For weeks, he had discussed the…
The suspect, Andrew Heifler, was arrested as he was assembling Molotov cocktails to throw at the activist's home. For weeks, he had discussed the plot with an undercover NYPD officer who had infiltrated a group chat, according to police.
FILE – Police detain Nerdeen Kiswani, an organizer of pro-Palestinian demonstration group “Within Our Lifetime” during a protest, Friday, April. 12, 2024, in New York. A New Jersey man who planned to firebomb the home of a prominent Palestinian activist was arrested following a weekslong undercover operation led by the New York City Police Department, officials said. The target of the plot was Nerdeen Kiswani, an outspoken Brooklyn-based Palestinian activist who co-founded the protest group Within Our Lifetime, which calls for liberation by"any means necessary." Kiswani, 31, said she received a call from a law enforcement official late Thursday informing her that “a threat on my life was about to take place, and that they had apprehended the threat.”Federal authorities said they had arrested the man, Andrew Heifler, as he was assembling Molotov cocktails to throw at Kiswani’s home. For weeks, he had discussed the plot with an undercover NYPD officer who had infiltrated a group chat used by Heifler, according to a police department spokesperson.Heifler was charged in a criminal complaint Thursday with two firearms offenses. An online court docket did not list a lawyer for him or information on an initial court appearance. Robert Frazer, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, posted a statement on social media calling it"an ongoing investigation" and that there was"no current threat to the community."According to the complaint, Heifler spoke on a video call in February with a group that included an undercover officer about his interest in training for “self-defense” and wanting space where he could throw Molotov cocktails. The next day, the complaint said, Heifler and the undercover officer met in person and he discussed wanting to vandalize Kiswani’s home. He said he had Kiswani’s address and spoke to the undercover officer about making Molotov cocktails and his plan to flee to Israel after the attack, the complaint said. On March 4, Heifler and the undercover officer drove to Kiswani’s residence to “conduct surveillance” and discussed making a dozen Molotov cocktails to throw at her home and two cars parked outside, complaint said. On Thursday, the undercover officer and Heifler met at Heifler’s Hoboken residence, where he had assembled components to make the Molotov cocktails, including a large bottle of Everclear, a highly flammable alcohol, the complaint said. Law enforcement officers with the FBI and NYPD then executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered the eight Molotov cocktails, the complaint said. Kiwani, who lives with her infant son and husband, said she was “shell-shocked” by the news, but not surprised. “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,” Kiswani said, adding that she would “continue advocating on behalf of Palestinian children.” Late last night the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force informed me that a plot against my life that was "about to" take place, and that agents had conducted an operation in Hoboken related to this plot. For months, Zionist organizations like Betar and politicians like Randy Fine have…The operation was carried out by the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism unit within the NYPD’s counterterrorism bureau, a police spokesperson said. "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," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump-Era Official Refers New York Attorney General for Alleged Insurance FraudA former Trump administration official, Bill Pulte, has made two criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging insurance fraud related to homeowner's insurance applications. The referrals claim James falsified information regarding occupancy at properties in Virginia.
Read more »
US actor denounces lawless killings, land seizures in occupied West BankActor Mark Ruffalo condemns seizure of Palestinian land in occupied West Bank.
Read more »
Texas academic sues university over suspension linked to pro-Palestinian speechAssistant professor asks federal court to block university from terminating his contract after speech controversy.
Read more »
NYPD announces 1,000 firearm seizures to start 2026 as bereaved Harlem mom speaks out against gun violenceNYPD Commish Jessica Tisch announces 1K illegal guns seized so far in 2026
Read more »
Plot to firebomb Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani's home thwarted by FBI and NYPDNerdeen Kiswani, co-founder of the group Within Our Lifetime, said the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force told her about 'a plot against my life that was 'about to' take place.'
Read more »
Assassination plot targeting NYC Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani disrupted by NYPDFederal law enforcement officials disrupted a plot to fire bomb the New York City home of a prominent Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Here's what to know.
Read more »