Authorities have arrested a 26-year-old man accused of planning a violent attack against a New York-based pro-Palestinian activist, according to U.S. law enforcement officials.
Alexander Heifler was taken into custody in New Jersey and charged with unlawful possession and manufacturing of destructive devices after investigators allegedly discovered eight Molotov cocktails at his home in Hoboken, court documents show.
The suspected target of the plot, activist Nerdeen Kiswani, said on X that federal authorities warned her on Thursday that there had been “a plot against my life.” Kiswani is a co-founder of Within Our Lifetime, a New York City-based pro-Palestinian organisation known for organizing demonstrations against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Police say the alleged plot began early last month when Heifler joined a video call on 10 February with a “self-defence” group that included an undercover law enforcement officer. During the call, investigators say he asked whether anyone had a location where he could throw Molotov cocktails and later discussed vandalising Kiswani’s home.
Authorities allege that after arranging an in-person meeting with the undercover agent, Heifler claimed he had obtained Kiswani’s address and conducted surveillance of the residence on 4 March. According to court records, he also said Molotov cocktails were easy to make and that he had prepared an escape plan to leave the United States.
On 26 March, investigators say Heifler met the undercover agent near Kiswani’s home carrying a large bottle of alcohol and other materials that could be used to assemble Molotov cocktails. Authorities believe he intended to throw the devices at vehicles and directly at the activist’s residence.
After the meeting, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Hoboken home and recovered eight Molotov cocktails, according to the charging document. Police described Heifler as an extremist with no prior criminal record in New York and said they believe he was acting alone, without support from foreign governments or terrorist groups.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the investigation uncovered what she described as a serious planned attack targeting Kiswani.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the suspect was allegedly linked to the Jewish Defense League, which the FBI has designated as a violent extremist organisation. Mamdani described the alleged plan as “a chilling act of political violence and an apparent assassination plot.”
Kiswani has previously said she and other activists have faced harassment and intimidation from far-right groups because of their political views.