The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a man in St Louis, Missouri on Friday suspected of phoning in bomb threats to Jewish community centers and schools around the United States.
The Justice Department said Juan Thompson, 31, was thought to be behind at least eight of more than 100 threats made in recent weeks that have stirred fears of a rise in anti-Semitism.
The agency said the threats were made as part of an effort by Thompson to harass an unnamed former girlfriend.
“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,” New York-based US Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.
“Threats of violence targeting people and places based on religion or race — whatever the motivation — are unacceptable, un-American and criminal.”
Thompson allegedly emailed in threats against the Jewish institutions that indicated his ex-girlfriend was behind the threats.
He also made some in his own name but as ploys to show that she was trying to frame him for the crime.
Thompson was charged with one count of cyberstalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
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