Air Guardsman who made vile comment about America charged in antisemitic attack and bomb-making plot

A Pennsylvania Air National Guardsman, erstwhile trusted with America’s security, is facing national charges aft allegedly gathering explosives, promoting extremist unit and vandalizing a Jewish synagogue, each portion lying astir his loyalty to the 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 spiritual spot with pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel graffiti.

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In an representation 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 the Air Force, Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PAANG) successful 2023, joining the 171st Maintenance Squadron based adjacent Pittsburgh International Airport. As portion of his enlistment, helium 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 the U.S​.

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

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

A societal media station allegedly shared by Mohamad Hamad shows a Hamas ceremonial procession with substance expressing jealousy of fallen fighters and a privation 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 with co-defendant Collins to manufacture and person destructive devices. They allegedly purchased materials similar potassium perchlorate and aluminum powder, built explosives including tube bombs and detonated them during testing​.

One chilling speech captured Hamad admitting helium was "actually scared" of the weaponry helium built, portion Collins excitedly discussed the imaginable to "take bros ankles."

Hamad’s actions were not constricted to gathering bombs. On societal media, helium openly posted images supporting Hamas operatives, expressed envy of jihadists killed successful enactment and posted threats specified as, "I can't hold until the 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 the synagogue. Lubit aboriginal allegedly spray-painted "Jews 4 Palestine" on with a reddish inverted triangle — a awesome utilized by Hamas to people targets — onto the synagogue’s exterior​.

In this undated photograph from tribunal documents, suspect Mohamad Hamad allegedly posted a representation of an battle firearm connected societal media with a caption that said "each slug successful this mag[azine] kisses the foreheads of the 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 the indictment​.

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

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

Rivetti emphasized that his bureau remains "resolute" successful safeguarding the Jewish assemblage and the public​.

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

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

The instrumentality 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 the seriousness of the offenses and immoderate anterior transgression history.

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