A Jordanian national has been arrested on suspicion of making bomb threats and attacking energy facilities in Florida, allegedly motivated by the United States government’s support for the state of Israel.
Hashem Younis Hashem Funaihen, 43, of Orlando, was indicted Thursday on four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destroying an energy facility.
Prosecutors said Funaihen began targeting and attacking Orlando-area businesses “perceived to be supportive of the state of Israel” beginning in June.
According to court documents, Funaihen, wearing a mask, allegedly smashed the shop’s glass front door under cover of darkness and left a “warning note.”
According to the indictment, the letter addressed to the U.S. government contained a series of political demands that culminated in a threat to “destroy or blow up everything across the United States, especially businesses and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
Prosecutors say Funaihen’s attacks then escalated: As police worked to identify the masked assailant, he allegedly broke into a solar power facility in Wedgefield, Florida, and methodically destroyed an array of solar panels over the course of hours in late June.
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He is accused of vandalising panels, cutting wiring and targeting sensitive electronic equipment. According to court documents, Funaihen left two more threatening notes. Prosecutors believe Funaihen caused more than $700,000 in damage.
The indictment includes photographs of solar panels with broken glass and aerial photos of the solar panel site where Hanaichen is alleged to have attacked, with the area of the targeted panels outlined in red. (Ministry of Justice)
Police identified Funaihen after a “multi-agency investigation” and arrested him on July 11, shortly after another “threatening letter” was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution center in Orlando, threatening to “destroy or explode everything.”
“We allege that the defendants threatened to carry out hateful, mob violence in our country because they wanted to target businesses they perceived to be supportive of Israel,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “Whether targeting places Americans visit every day or our nation’s critical infrastructure, these actions and threats of violence are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice.”
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Roger Handberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced that if convicted, Funaihen faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the racketeering charge and up to 20 years in prison on the energy facility destruction charge.
The indictment includes photographs of the damage Funaihen allegedly caused to the two businesses. (Ministry of Justice)
At a detention hearing on Thursday, Nichen was ordered held until trial. The indictment also notified Nichen that the United States plans to seize assets related to the crimes.
“The targeting and attacking of businesses because of their perceived beliefs is unacceptable,” Handberg said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and federally prosecute those who make or attempt to carry out violent or hateful threats.”
“In the name of expressing his beliefs, the defendants allegedly attacked a power plant, threatened local businesses, and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “Using violence and vandalizing property to intimidate and threaten others is never acceptable, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
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The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with valuable assistance from the Maitland Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, and Orlando Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan is leading the prosecution.
The incident comes months after two Jordanian nationals in the US attempted to break into a Marine Corps base in Virginia in May.
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, one expert recently told Fox News Digital that Jordan remains the “last holdout” as Iran aims to turn it into Tehran’s next major “terror front.”
Fox News’ Caitlin McFaul contributed to this report.
