Authorities allege a Colorado man tried to launch a violent attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv using homemade explosives.

According to The Hill, Joseph Neumayer, a 28-year-old dual citizen of Germany and the United States, was arrested on U.S. soil on May 25, 2025, after being deported from Israel following an attempted firebombing of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv six days earlier.

Neumayer, originally from Colorado, flew to Israel in April. Nearly a month later, on May 19, he approached the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv with a dark backpack, acting aggressively and verbally confrontational with security personnel stationed outside the building. According to officials, he spat on an embassy guard and shouted profanities in an attempt to gain access to the facility.

When a guard tried to restrain him, authorities say Neumayer fled, leaving his backpack behind. A security inspection of that bag revealed several crude explosive devices described by the U.S. Department of Justice as Molotov cocktails containing a "flammable fluid."

He was quickly tracked down by local police and arrested later that day at a hotel only five blocks away from the embassy. Israeli officials handled the investigation initially and discovered information that raised concern among U.S. authorities.

Social Media Threats Uncovered After Arrest

Investigators say Neumayer had posted a disturbing message on social media just hours before the attempted attack. In the post, he allegedly called for others to join him in burning "down the embassy in Tel Aviv," accompanied by death threats directed at Americans and an expletive-laden statement targeting the West.

Additional posts believed to be authored by Neumayer surfaced during the investigation. These messages reportedly contained threats to assassinate former President Donald Trump and verbal attacks aimed at tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Federal officials considered these posts highly dangerous, contributing to the decision to file serious charges following his return to the United States.

On May 25, Neumayer was deported from Israel and landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. He was immediately taken into custody by federal agents. He now faces prosecution in the Eastern District of New York and, if convicted, could serve between five and twenty years in prison and be fined up to $250,000.

Federal Prosecutors Speak Out Against Embassy Threat

"This defendant is charged with planning a devastating attack targeting our embassy in Israel, threatening death to Americans, and President Trump’s life," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement released by the DOJ.

Bondi emphasized the severity of the situation and stressed the government’s zero-tolerance stance on violent extremism. "The Department will not tolerate such violence and will prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law," she added.

The FBI is collaborating closely with international and domestic partners in the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel said Neumayer’s actions were “despicable” and stressed that crimes targeting U.S. interests, regardless of location, will be pursued aggressively. "This despicable and violent behavior will not be tolerated at home or abroad," Patel stated.

Why This Story Matters

This story highlights the ongoing challenges of safeguarding national interests at home and abroad. It also sheds light on the use of online platforms to promote violence, raising questions about how digital threats are monitored and intercepted.

For American citizens and government institutions operating overseas, such incidents underscore the very real threats they can face daily.

Conclusion

Joseph Neumayer, a 28-year-old dual U.S.-German citizen from Colorado, was arrested at JFK Airport on May 25 after attempting to attack the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv with homemade explosives six days earlier. Israeli officials apprehended him shortly after the May 19 incident, and he was later deported.

His social media posts revealed troubling threats against American leaders and citizens. Now in federal custody in New York, Neumayer is facing charges with potentially lengthy prison time and large fines. Authorities say the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by both lone actors and digital extremism worldwide.