FBI Foils Assassination Plot Against US Palestinian Activist

Federal Authorities Foil Plot Against Palestinian Activist Nerdeen Kiswani

A suspect has been detained by US law enforcement agencies for allegedly planning to attack prominent Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani in New York City. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted an undercover operation that led to the arrest of Andrew Heifler, a 26-year-old man from New Jersey.

According to a federal complaint, Heifler was arrested on Thursday while assembling Molotov cocktails intended for use against Kiswani’s home. He has been charged with counts of making and possessing destructive devices. The FBI informed Kiswani late on Thursday that a plot against her life had been identified, citing an undercover operation in Hoboken.

Kiswani, the 31-year-old co-founder of Within Our Lifetime, stated that she was informed by the FBI about the threat and expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s intervention. “I will not stop speaking up for the people of Palestine,” she said.

The incident occurred amid reports of increased harassment and surveillance faced by Palestinian rights activists in the US. Advocates have noted a rise in hateful rhetoric from lawmakers against Muslims and Palestinians, including comments made by Republican congressman Randy Fine.

Heifler discussed his plans with an undercover agent over several weeks, including driving to surveil Kiswani’s home on March 4. The suspect was found carrying components for making Molotov cocktails at his Hoboken residence. Law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered eight Molotov cocktails.

US law enforcement agencies have faced criticism in the past for using undercover agents to help plan attacks with suspects, only to foil them and claim credit for preventing them.

Source: Al Jazeera