Suspect in plot to attack synagogues detained in the US — Jerusalem Post
In Pennsylvania, United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation detained 21-year-old Jonathan Hunter Kramer, who is suspected of preparing a mass attack. As the Jerusalem Post reports, FBI agents detained him on Saturday near a hotel in Cranberry Township.
Weapons at the time of detention
According to federal investigators, Kramer had a rifle, dozens of knives and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition when he was detained. Law enforcement officials said that he was allegedly preparing to carry out an attack.
Shawn Brokos, director of community security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, told CBS Pittsburgh that community vigilance and reports from concerned people helped prevent the possible attack. According to him, this may have saved many lives, as law enforcement did not know exactly where the suspect was headed.
Details from the case
Federal court documents state that Kramer's alleged allegiance to the Islamic State group dates back to when he was a minor. During a search of his home in 2023, investigators found a video in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
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The FBI first took notice of him in April 2023, when he was 16 or 17 years old, following threatening online posts and the distribution of instructions for making explosives under the pseudonym “Nicholas Cruz.” According to case materials, he was later found responsible for planning a mass-casualty event and possessing child sexual abuse materials. After that, he was held at a juvenile detention center in Oil City until his release in March.
Investigators also stated that after returning home, Kramer corresponded with other people through various social platforms about possible targets for mass attacks. These included nightclubs, theaters, concerts, residential buildings, hotels, protests and schools with low levels of security. A method of poisoning food in synagogues was also discussed.
After the detention, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh maintained heightened security measures at local facilities while communities observed religious holidays.
