Young Pennsylvania man arrested over alleged ISIS-inspired mass attack plot targeting synagogues
A search of Kramer’s home in 2023, when he was still a minor, uncovered a video in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was the leader of ISIS at the time.
A 21-year-old man from Butler County, Pennsylvania, named Jonathan Hunter Kramer, has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of plotting a mass attack inspired by ISIS. The planned attack was intended to target synagogues, according to federal investigators. Kramer was apprehended on Saturday while he was preparing for the alleged attack at a hotel in Cranberry Township.
Shawn Brokos, the director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, spoke with CBS Pittsburgh about the significance of community vigilance and tips from concerned citizens in preventing the attack. Brokos expressed his relief that the plot was thwarted but also his concern about Kramer's actions. He emphasized that it is the cooperation and information sharing from concerned citizens that saves countless lives.
Federal court documents reveal that Kramer's alleged allegiance to ISIS began when he was a minor. In 2023, a search of his home uncovered a video in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former leader of ISIS. Kramer first came to the FBI's attention in April 2023 when he was 16 or 17 years old. At that time, he was posting threatening statements online and sharing instructions on how to make explosives under the username "Nikolas Cruz."
After those incidents, Kramer was found guilty of plotting a mass casualty event and possessing child sex abuse material. As a result, he was placed in juvenile detention in Oil City until his release in March. According to investigators, after returning home, Kramer communicated with individuals on various social media platforms about potential targets for massacres, which included nightclubs, theaters, concerts, apartment buildings, hotels, protests, and schools with low security. He also discussed methods such as poisoning food at synagogues.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors. They stated that they would share any concerning information immediately to ensure public safety. Following the arrest, the organization increased security measures at its local facilities as communities observed religious holidays.
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