A dual citizen of the United States and Germany has been charged with attempting to burn down the US Embassy in Tel Aviv using Molotov cocktails and making online threats to kill US President Donald Trump, according to US department of justice. Joseph Neumeyer, a 28-year-old who claimed online to be the founder and CEO of a mysterious company called Atlas Light Company, was deported from Israel and arrested on arrival in New York on Sunday. He made his first appearance at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, where he was ordered to remain in custody until trial.According to the US Justice Department, Neumeyer travelled to Israel in April 2025. Last week, he turned up outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv with a backpack and allegedly tried to launch a firebomb attack.He approached a security guard, spat on him, and tried to flee the scene, leaving his bag behind. When Israeli authorities searched the backpack, they found several Molotov cocktails, incendiary devices containing flammable liquid. He was later tracked to a nearby hotel and arrested.Also read: US arrests man accused of firebomb plot against Embassy in IsraelBefore the attempted attack, Neumeyer had posted disturbing content on his Facebook page, including: “Join me as I burn down the embassy in Tel Aviv. Death to America. Death to Americans and f— the west.” Officials also say he posted calls for the assassination of President Trump.He was charged with attempting to destroy the US Embassy by fire or explosive, and if convicted, faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison.The case is being handled by the Eastern District of New York’s National Security and Cybercrime Section, with support from FBI offices, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and Israeli authorities. Neumeyer remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
