Air Guardsman Who Made Vile Comment About America Charged In Antisemitic Attack And Bomb-making Plot

A Pennsylvania Air National Guardsman, erstwhile trusted pinch America’s security, is facing national charges aft allegedly building explosives, promoting extremist unit and vandalizing a Jewish synagogue, each while lying astir his loyalty to nan U.S.

A national expansive assemblage successful Pittsburgh returned a nine-count indictment against 3 Pittsburgh-area residents, acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced this week. 

The indictment names Mohamad Hamad, 23, of Coraopolis; Talya A. Lubit, 24, of Pittsburgh; and Micaiah Collins, 22, of Pittsburgh, arsenic defendants. 

Hamad and Lubit had antecedently been indicted for their roles successful allegedly defacing Jewish belief spot pinch pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel graffiti.

YALE DROPS ALLEGED HAMAS-TIED STUDENT GROUP'S STATUS AFTER 'DISTURBING ANTISEMITIC CONDUCT'

In an image included successful a national indictment, Mohamad Hamad allegedly posted a photograph of himself wearing a Hamas-style headband and holding a operation Israeli-U.S. flag. (U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania)

According to an indictment, Hamad enlisted successful nan Air Force, Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PAANG) successful 2023, joining nan 171st Maintenance Squadron based adjacent Pittsburgh International Airport. As portion of his enlistment, he sought a top-secret information clearance.

While undergoing his inheritance investigation, including 3 in-person interviews, Hamad allegedly made a bid of mendacious statements, swearing his "ultimate allegiance" was to nan U.S​.

PALESTINIAN LEADER DEMANDS HAMAS RELEASE REMAINING HOSTAGES

In reality, tribunal documents show Hamad privately celebrated violent groups and expressed heavy hostility toward America. In messages, he stated, "It's still Palestine connected apical though make nary mistake," and "let America lick my a--." He declared that Lebanon and Palestine were "number 1" successful his bosom and said he wanted to study combat skills to protect them​.

Throughout precocious 2023 and 2024, while attending subject training, Hamad allegedly shared convulsive pro-Hamas videos, glorified violent attacks and praised Hamas fighters arsenic "freedom fighters," according to nan indictment​.

A societal media station allegedly shared by Mohamad Hamad shows a Hamas ceremonial convoy pinch matter expressing jealousy of fallen fighters and a wish to "fight and die," according to tribunal documents.  (U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania)

The indictment further alleges that, during this aforesaid period, Hamad conspired pinch co-defendant Collins to manufacture and person destructive devices. They allegedly purchased materials for illustration potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder, built explosives including tube bombs and detonated them during testing​.

One chilling speech captured Hamad admitting he was "actually scared" of nan explosive he built, while Collins excitedly discussed nan imaginable to "take bros ankles."

Hamad’s actions were not constricted to building bombs. On societal media, he openly posted images supporting Hamas operatives, expressed envy of jihadists killed successful action and posted threats specified as, "I can't hold until nan time Muslims termination you. I would beryllium truthful happy..."​

In a abstracted conspiracy, Hamad and Lubit allegedly targeted Chabad of Squirrel Hill, a synagogue and Jewish acquisition halfway successful Pittsburgh. Wearing a Hamas-style headband, Hamad conducted surveillance of nan synagogue. Lubit later allegedly spray-painted "Jews 4 Palestine" on pinch a reddish inverted triangle — a awesome utilized by Hamas to people targets — onto nan synagogue’s exterior​.

In this undated photograph from tribunal documents, suspect Mohamad Hamad allegedly posted a image of an battle firearm connected societal media pinch a caption that said "each slug successful this mag[azine] kisses nan foreheads of nan Zionist oppressor," according to a national indictment. (U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania)

In encrypted messages, Lubit chillingly stated, "I tin virtually consciousness myself starting to spot Jews arsenic my enemies," according to nan indictment​.

Federal investigators later linked Hamad and Lubit to further vandalism of a Jewish Federation motion nearby, further escalating organization concerns astir targeted antisemitic threats.

"As alleged successful nan Superseding Indictment, Mohamad Hamad lied astir his loyalty to nan United States, among different mendacious statements, successful an effort to get a Top-Secret information clearance," Rivetti said. "During that time, he openly expressed support for Lebanon, Hezbollah and Hamas." 

Rivetti emphasized that his agency remains "resolute" successful safeguarding nan Jewish organization and nan public​.

"Protecting nan American group is spelled retired successful nan Mission of nan FBI. That includes each our communities," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent successful Charge Kevin Rojek. He vowed nan FBI remains committed to investigating individuals who prosecute successful "dangerous, menacing and forbidden activities."

An image from tribunal grounds shows a makeshift explosive instrumentality composed of spray overgarment cans and a fuse, allegedly manufactured by nan defendants. (U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania)

The rule provides for maximum penalties of up to 10 years successful situation and a $250,000 good for Hamad, 5 years and a $250,000 good for Collins and 1 twelvemonth and a $100,000 good for Lubit, depending connected nan seriousness of nan offenses and immoderate anterior criminal history.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Assistant U.S. attorneys Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Carolyn J. Bloch are prosecuting nan lawsuit pinch assistance from nan Department of Justice National Security Division. The investigation was conducted by nan FBI, nan Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and nan Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.