Suspect in Several ‘Copycat’ Bomb Threats Against ADL and Jewish Facilities Arrested

No Suspects Announced Yet for Majority of 100 Bomb Threat Terror Attacks 

Accused of Waging Campaign of Harassment Against Former Lover

Juan Thompson has been arrested in conjunction with multiple bomb threats police say were part of a campaign of harrassment against a former lover. NBC News reports Thompson was arrested in St. Louis, although some of his targets were in the New York City area. He is not believed to be behind the vast majority of bomb threat terror attacks the nation’s Jewish facilities have endured. 

Since the beginning of the year about there have been about 100 incidents of Jewish Community Centers receiving bomb threats, some receiving two or three over the course of several months. These facilities often provide day care services for young children. News reports have shown cribs wheeled out into parking lots in bitter cold as workers rush to evacuate buildings. 

In addition, at least two Jewish cemeteries were attacked, finding hundreds of gravestones overturned this year.

“A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan indicated that Thompson was trying to’harass and intimidate’ an unnamed victim with whom he had a relationship,” NBC New York’s Jonathan Dienst reports. Some of the bomb threats were made in the name of his former lover, and some in his own name.

Thompson will face charges of cyberstalking and other crimes.

“Today, we have charged Juan Thompson with allegedly stalking a former romantic interest by, among other things, making bomb threats in her name to Jewish Community Centers and to the Anti-Defamation League,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said, NBC reports. “Threats of violence targeting people and places based on religion or race – whatever the motivation – are unacceptable, un-American, and criminal.”

The ADL, which was among the targets, and its CEO posted these tweets:

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