NEW YORK — A man accused of planning to firebomb the home of prominent Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani has been arrested after a weekslong undercover operation by the New York Police Department, officials said Friday.
Federal authorities said Alexander Heifler, 26, was arrested Thursday at his Hoboken, New Jersey, home as he assembled Molotov cocktails he planned to throw at Kiswani’s residence. For weeks, Heifler had discussed the plot with an undercover NYPD detective who had infiltrated a group chat used by Heifler, a police spokesperson said.
An official briefed on the investigation identified Heifler as a member of JDL 613 Brotherhood, a New Jersey-based group founded in 2024 that describes members as “Jewish warriors” responding to rising antisemitism. A website for the group says it is inspired by the original Jewish Defense League, which was linked to bombings and attempted assassinations of Arab American activists in the 1970s and 1980s. An email inquiry to JDL 613 was not returned.
Kiswani, 31, who leads the pro-Palestinian organization Within Our Lifetime and frequently organizes protests in New York against Israel and the war in Gaza, said law enforcement told her late Thursday they had disrupted “a threat on my life that was about to take place.” She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and infant son and said the plot would not deter her activism.
According to a criminal complaint filed by an FBI agent, Heifler spoke on a February video call with a group that included the undercover detective about training for “self-defense” and wanting a place to throw Molotov cocktails. The next day, he met the undercover officer in person and discussed using Molotovs against Kiswani and fleeing the country. “We have (Kiswani’s) address,” Heifler allegedly said on the call.
Heifler and the undercover detective drove to Kiswani’s residence on March 4 to “conduct surveillance” and later discussed making a dozen Molotov cocktails to target her home and two cars parked outside, the complaint said. On Thursday, investigators said they found components for the devices at Heifler’s Hoboken residence, including a large bottle of Everclear, and recovered eight assembled Molotov cocktails after executing a search warrant.
Heifler was charged in a federal criminal complaint with making and possessing destructive devices, counts that each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He made an initial appearance in New Jersey federal court on Friday; a message left with his attorney was not returned. An official said Heifler had planned to flee to Israel after the attack.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement, “Let me be clear: We will not tolerate violent extremism in our city. No one should face violence for their political beliefs or their advocacy. I am relieved that Nerdeen is safe.”
The operation was conducted by the NYPD’s Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism unit within the department’s counterterrorism bureau. “This is exactly how our intelligence and counterterrorism operation is designed to work — a sophisticated apparatus built to detect danger early and prevent violence before it reaches our streets,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Kiswani’s activism and Within Our Lifetime’s calls to “abolish Zionism” and support for “all forms of struggle, including violence,” have drawn criticism; Kiswani denies her criticism of Israel is antisemitic. She has also been the frequent target of online attacks. Earlier this year, Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, drew backlash for a social media post that Kiswani and others condemned as hateful. Kiswani said such public rhetoric and actions by officials and Zionist organizations have bolstered hatred against Palestinians and contributed to threats like the one thwarted this week.