Israel arrests Jewish teen over anti-Semitic threats in US

A JEWISH teenager has been arrested in Israel accused of making dozens of anti-Semitic bomb threats in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, and one to a major airline, following a wideranging investigation involving the FBI.​

The suspect is a 19-year-old resident of southern Israel and a dual US-Israeli citizen, police said.

An Israeli court on Thursday remanded him in custody until March 30, and he could be seen lifting his shirt over his face to hide his identity as photographers sought to film him.

His identity is under a gag order while the investigation continues. His motive was not yet clear.

Israeli media quoted his lawyer, Galit Bash, as saying “there is a concern that his medical condition affects his cognitive function”.

“We asked the court to order a medical examination,” she said.

A police statement said “the investigation began in several countries at the same time, in which dozens of threatening calls were received at public places, events, synagogues and community buildings that caused panic and disrupted events and activities in various organisations”.

The investigation was undertaken in co-operation with the FBI “as well as other police organisations from various countries”, it added.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the suspect was believed to be behind a range of threats against Jewish community centres and other buildings linked to Jewish communities in the United States in recent months.

It was not clear precisely how many threats he was accused of making. He is also suspected of being behind similar threats in New Zealand and Australia.

In addition, Rosenfeld said he is suspected of a bomb threat to Delta Airlines in February 2015 which led to an emergency landing.

Police said he used voice-disguising technology when making calls. Authorities seized computer equipment and other items.

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in a statement that “we hope that this investigation will help shed light on some of the recent threats against Jewish institutions, which have caused great concern both among Jewish communities and the Israeli government.”

source: AFP