Foiled attack plot against American pro-Palestinian activist

A man accused of planning to use incendiary devices against the home of a U.S.-based pro-Palestinian activist was arrested in New Jersey, authorities and the activist said Friday.

“Late last night, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force informed me that a plot to take my life was about to happen,” Nerdeen Kiswani, a prominent New York advocate for Palestinians, said in a post on X.

The U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey said a 26-year-old man, identified as Alexander Heifler, was arrested in Hoboken on charges of unlawful possession and manufacture of destructive devices, specifically Molotov cocktails.

According to the complaint, the suspect was identified through the work of an undercover New York police officer. Eight incendiary devices were made, several of which were intended to be thrown at the activist’s home.

The New York Times, citing a police source, reported the suspect is a member of a group called the “JDL 613 Brotherhood,” described as inspired by the Jewish Defense League, an extremist movement monitored by authorities.

“This is exactly how our intelligence and counterterrorism operations are supposed to work: a sophisticated apparatus designed to detect dangers early and prevent violence before it reaches our streets,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Kiswani leads Within Our Lifetime, a group that has been at the forefront of organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations in New York, particularly during the war in Gaza. She has been frequently targeted online by pro-Israel groups.

The case “comes amid a disturbing rise in threats and violence across the country targeting defenders of Palestinian rights,” New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani said. “Let’s be clear: we will not tolerate violent extremism in our city. … I am relieved that Nerdeen is safe.”

“This troubling case underscores the growing climate of harassment, threats and violence targeting those who speak out on Palestinian rights and other social justice issues,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said.

Last month, Kiswani filed a lawsuit against the U.S. branch of Betar, a right-wing international Jewish movement, accusing it of encouraging harassment and assaults against her on social media.

“For months, Zionist organizations like Betar and political figures such as Randy Fine have encouraged violence against my family and me,” she wrote on X.

Randy Fine, a Republican lawmaker from Florida, previously drew criticism for a post responding to Kiswani in which he used inflammatory language.