WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd May, 2019) A state of New Jersey resident arrested by US authorities for allegedly supporting Hamas threatened to blow up Trump Tower earlier this year, the Justice Department said in a press release.
"Around April 20, 2019, FBI surveillance observed [Jonathan] Xie outside of the Trump Tower building in New York City. Shortly thereafter, according to Instagram records, Xie posted two photos to his Instagram account: One with the words 'I want to bomb Trump Tower' imposed over the building image and the other with the words '[S]hould I bomb Trump Tower,' a 'Yes/No' poll, and an emoji of a bomb imposed over the Trump Tower building image," the Justice Department said after arresting the suspect on Wednesday.
US authorities accused Xie, 20, of sending funds to Hamas members, lying on his application to join the US Army, and threatening pro-Israel supporters.
According to the release, Xie wanted to join the US military to launch a "lone wolf" mass shooting.
Xie was formally charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, two counts of making false statements, and one count of transmitting a threat via interstate commerce. If found guilty on all counts Xie could face more than 50 years in prison and about $1.25 million in fines.
