Sessions lauds arrest of teen who threatened Jewish Community Centers

On Thursday, a teen with Israeli-American citizenship was arrested in connection with a dozens of bomb threats made to Jewish Community Centers across the nation, which included several against the Levite Jewish Community Center Birmingham. Upon announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions praised law enforcement and intelligence officials.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, and we will not tolerate the targeting of any community in this country on the basis of their religious beliefs,” Sessions said in a statement. “I commend the FBI and Israeli National Police for their outstanding work on this case.”

Sessions added that the arrest was the “culmination of a large-scale investigation spanning multiple continents for hate crimes against Jewish communities across our country.”

The teen has been described as a 19 year-old “hacker” who used advanced technology to hide his digital footprint. He was arrested in South Israel.

In Birmingham, the Levite Jewish Community Center has been threatened four separate times, receiving its most recent bomb threat in early March. The LJCC also received bomb threats on Jan. 18, Feb. 20, and Feb. 27. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the incidents.

President Donald J. Trump came out late last month to condemn such threats against the Jewish community. “The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community at community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” Trump said. “I certainly hope they catch the people.”

Recent in Politics

Alabama’s two U.S. senators are backing new bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing transparency in the prescription drug supply chain by requiring country-of-origin labeling on medications and their key ingredients. U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) have joined colleagues in introducing the Consumer Labeling for Enhanced API Reporting and Legitimate Accountability for Base […]

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is asking for more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to come down to the Yellowhammer State. Marshall is asking for the Trump administration’s help to enforce the law after an illegal immigrant was arrested in connection with the disappearance of a mother and two of her children. Democrats won’t […]