Jordanian charged in US for threats against perceived Israel supporters

A Jordanian citizen residing in Orlando, Florida, was charged with threatening to use explosives and destruction of an energy facility against businesses for their perceived support of Israel, the US Justice Department said according to Reuters.

Incidents of hate against Jews, Muslims, Arabs, Palestinians and Israelis in the US have risen since 7 October last year.

“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fuelled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement yesterday.

The arrested man was identified as Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, and could not immediately be contacted.

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FBI Director Christopher Wray added that “the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility and threatened local businesses, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.”

From about June, Hnaihen allegedly targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area for their perceived support for Israel, the Justice Department said. Wearing a mask, under the cover of night, Hnaihen allegedly smashed the glass front doors of businesses and left behind warning letters, the department said.

Hnaihen is believed to have caused more than $700,000 in damage, the Justice Department said, adding he was arrested on 11 July.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for each of the four threat offences and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the destruction of an energy facility offence, according to the Justice Department.

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