A massive ISIS-inspired plot to attack synagogues and other targets was foiled by the FBI, which arrested a 21-year-old Pittsburgh-area man, Jonathan Kramer, last week. Kramer, who used the pseudonym "Hamza Al Rashid" online, suggested poisoning food in synagogues as part of the plot. He made the suggestions on an online forum, according to a sworn Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) affidavit.
The prospective poisoning was part of a broader plot of mass violence that included "repeated attempts to encourage and coordinate violence through encrypted platforms," FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec said at a press conference. The plot involved advising others on attack methods, discussing chemical poisons, arson, vehicle attacks, drone delivery explosives, and firearm-based assaults.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh issued a security update, stating that no synagogue had been specified by the FBI. The organisation noted that it was in close contact with law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors and would share any concerning information immediately. The update came after Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg announced that Kramer was preparing for a mass shooting that could have taken many lives.
Kramer had secured a rifle and approximately 190 rounds of ammunition for what he called his "mission," according to Eisenberg. FBI agents arrested Kramer in a hotel parking lot in Cranberry, Pennsylvania, and seized a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines, a rifle bipod and scope, a total of 190 rounds of rifle ammunition, and about 30 knives.
Kramer was charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition believing they would be used to commit terrorism. He appeared in court to waive a preliminary hearing, and a court date has not been set for his next proceedings. The FBI had been monitoring Kramer since 2023, when he was charged by Pennsylvania state authorities for his role in a plot to commit a mass casualty incident.
The arrest comes nearly eight years after the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history, in which 11 worshippers were killed at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. The FBI's efforts to prevent the plot were successful, and Kramer's public defender, Jake Morrison, was not available for comment.
The case highlights the ongoing threat of ISIS-inspired violence and the importance of law enforcement efforts to prevent such attacks. The FBI's investigation and arrest of Kramer demonstrate the agency's commitment to protecting the public from potential threats.
Key points
- The plot involved poisoning food in synagogues and other targets with ricin or cyanide.
- The suspect, Jonathan Kramer, had secured a rifle and 190 rounds of ammunition for the attack.
- The FBI had been monitoring Kramer since 2023, when he was charged with plotting a mass casualty incident.
