New Jersey 'Hamas enthusiast', 20, is arrested on terror charges after he 'discussed plot to bomb Trump Tower and shoot-up demonstrators at an pro-Israel march'
- Jonathan Xie, 20, has been arrested on charges of providing support to a terrorist group, making false statements and sending interstate threats
- In addition to entertaining a potential attack on the Manhattan skyscraper, authorities believe he also conducted detailed surveillance of the building
- Law enforcement sources say the suspect lied to enlist in the US Army for military training and allegedly wired money abroad to support Hamas militants
- It's claimed he posted a 'Yes/No' poll to Instagram saying 'Should I bomb Trump Tower?' with a bomb emoji imposed over the building
- 'I'm gonna go to the f****** pro-Israel march and I'm going to shoot everybody,' officials say Xie said in a video, speaking of an Al-Quds Day event
- Police say that although Xie's accused of discussing attacks, they don't believe a concrete plot was in place
A New Jersey man has been arrested on terror charges after he allegedly attempted to provide support to a terrorist group and spoke about bombing Trump Tower, police have revealed.
Jonathan Xie, 20, from Basking Ridge, was arrested on Wednesday morning on charges of attempting to provide support to a terrorist group, making false statements and transmitting a threat of interstate commerce.
In addition to entertaining a potential attack on the Manhattan skyscraper, authorities believe he also conducted detailed surveillance of the building.
Xie reportedly made a number of threats against against US-based pro-Israel groups and discussed bombing the Israeli consulate in New York as well.
Jonathan Xie, 20, has been arrested after her allegedly discussed a number of terror plots and sent money abroad to support terrorist groups. He is seen in a Wednesday court sketch
One of the alleged targets of the attack was Trump Tower in central Manhattan
Video courtesy PIX 11
Court documents allege that the suspect lied to enlist in the US Army for military training and allegedly wired money abroad to support Hamas militants.
Prosecutors say Xie even completed Security Clearance Applications for a number of National Security Agency (NSA) job vacancies in February, answering 'no' to the question of 'Have you ever associated with anyone involved in activities to further terrorism?'
Xie's application had an error and he was forced to refile the form 10 days later. Again, he answered no to the question.
Through conversations on Instagram, it's claimed he expressed that he wanted to join the NSA so he could 'learn how to kill... so I can use that knowledge' and '[I don't know] if I pass the training... If I should do lone wolf [sic].'
When asked if he was worried if he'd get arrested for his Hamas ties, Xie purportedly responded 'I don't give a s**t. I'm a political soldier. I'm not afraid to die. So I can carry something out in the future.'
In addition to entertaining a potential attack on the Manhattan skyscraper, authorities believe he also conducted detailed surveillance of the building
Last month, the FBI says surveillance cameras outside of Trump Tower captured Xie observing the building.
It's claimed he later posted a 'Yes/No' poll to Instagram saying 'Should I bomb Trump Tower?' with a bomb emoji imposed over the high-rise.
A criminal complaint details Xie later posted: 'Okay, so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower and then I started laughing hysterically . . . s*** I forgot to visit the Israeli embassy in NYC ... i want to bomb this place along with trump tower.'
In April, Xie is said to have filmed an Instagram Live story of him posing in a black ski-mask, saying he was against Zionism and the 'neo-liberal establishment'.
He supposedly added that he would 'find a way' to Hamas to show his support, and then displayed the Palestinian fundamentalist group's flag, while holding a handgun.
'I'm gonna go to the f****** pro-Israel march and I'm going to shoot everybody,' officials say Xie said in the video, talking about an Al-Quds day parade.
'I want to shoot the pro-Israel demonstrators... you can get a gun and shoot your way through or use a vehicle and ram people... all you need is a gun or vehicle to go on a rampage... I do not care if security forces come after me, they will have to put a bullet in my head to stop me,' he allegedly said in a later post.
He added he had 'some stuff planned' but couldn't talk about in any further on the stream.
Share this article
The FBI says that although the Xie is accused of discussing attacks, they don't believe a concrete plot was in place at the time of his arrest.
But their investigation has revealed details of Xie's troubling social media habits, including a YouTube channel containing playlists of videos supporting Saddam Hussain, Bashar al Assad, North Korea and ISIS.
'Homegrown violent extremists like Xie are a serious threat to national security,' U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement to NBC4.
'The actions that he took and planned to take made that threat both clear and present, and we commend our law enforcement partners for working closely with us to stop him before he could carry out his plans to commit violence on American soil.
'We will continue to do everything in our power to safeguard our country and its citizens from the threat of terrorism, whether that threat comes from abroad or – as here – from within.'
In April, Xie is said to have filmed an Instagram Live story of him posing in a black ski-mask, saying he was against Zionism and the 'neo-liberal establishment'. The same month he instructed an undercover FBI agent how to donate to Hamas forces (pictured: An email chain between Xie and an FBI agent, with a picture of a Hamas flag at the bottom)
Xie then sent screenshots of the website to the agent and demonstrated how to use a new feature on the website that allows donations to be sent via Bitcoin
Officials say he sent $100 via Moneygram to a person in Gaza in December last year, who he believed to a member of a Hamas suicide bombing group.
'Just donated $100 to Hamas. Pretty sure it was illegal but I don't give a damn,' he reportedly stated on Instagram at around the same time.
Then in April this year, Xie sent a link to a 'Hamas website' to an FBI agent posing undercover online and encouraged him to make a donation.
Xie then sent screenshots of the website to the agent and demonstrated how to use a new feature on the website that allows donations to be sent via Bitcoin.
On April 26, Xie sent a donation of approximately $20 in Bitcoin via the website as a test to see whether the Bitcoin feature worked, court documents said.
Charges of providing material support to terrorists carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, with fines of up to $250,000.
Officials say he sent $100 via Moneygram (receipt shown above) to a person in Gaza last year, who he believed to a member of a Hamas suicide bombing group
He said he 'didn't give a damn' if it was illegal
'The FBI remains vigilant in its efforts to protect the public from those who support terrorist groups and ideologies,' FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie said in a statement.
'Thanks to the hard work and determination of our agents and their law enforcement partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, this defendant’s further support to terrorism was disrupted and a threat to the safety of our community was averted.
'This case also illustrates the value of public awareness and participation. When you report suspicious activity, you become a force multiplier in the mission to keep America safe.'
Xie appeared in Newark Federal Court to be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon. He was accompanied by his mother and father who fought back tears throughout the hearing.
An FBI search of his Basking Ridge home, where he lives with his parents, found three guns. It's unclear who the weapons belong to and if they were legally bought.
Xie could face more than 100 years in prison if convicted of all counts.
