NEW YORK — Federal agents and New York police have taken a New Jersey resident into custody Thursday after he was caught preparing explosive devices intended for the home of a well-known Palestinian activist, according to law enforcement officials.
The intended victim was Nerdeen Kiswani, a 31-year-old Brooklyn resident and Palestinian rights advocate who helped establish the organization Within Our Lifetime.
Late Thursday evening, Kiswani received a phone call from an FBI representative who told her that “a threat on my life was about to take place, and that they had apprehended the threat.”
Law enforcement officials report they detained Andrew Heifler while he was constructing Molotov cocktails intended for Kiswani’s residence. Federal documents reveal he had been planning the attack with an undercover agent for several weeks, even conducting reconnaissance at Kiswani’s home.
Heifler faces two federal firearms-related charges filed Thursday. Court records do not yet show legal representation or scheduled court dates for the defendant.
Federal documents show that in February, Heifler participated in a video conference that included an undercover law enforcement operative, discussing his desire to receive “self-defense” training and secure a location where he could practice with Molotov cocktails.
The following day, court papers indicate Heifler met face-to-face with the undercover agent and expressed his intention to damage Kiswani’s property. The documents refer to her as “Victim-1.” He revealed he possessed Kiswani’s home address and outlined his plans to create incendiary devices and leave the United States following the assault.
Initially planning to depart the country by late April, Heifler later informed the undercover operative he would postpone his departure until mid-May, court documents state.
On March 4, both Heifler and the undercover agent traveled to Kiswani’s neighborhood to “conduct surveillance” and planned the creation of twelve incendiary devices, according to the complaint. Beyond targeting Kiswani’s residence, Heifler proposed attacking two vehicles parked nearby with the explosive devices.
During Thursday’s operation, the undercover agent met Heifler at his Hoboken home, where he possessed a large container of Everclear alcohol and additional materials needed for creating the weapons, court papers show.
Federal documents indicate Heifler confirmed his plan to hurl some of the incendiary devices directly into Kiswani’s home while using others against nearby automobiles.
Following the construction of eight Molotov cocktails, federal agents executed their search warrant at the residence and seized all eight devices. FBI explosive specialists conducted preliminary testing that confirmed the presence of ethanol and determined the items qualified as destructive devices under federal law.
Kiswani, 31, described feeling stunned by the revelation but said the threat didn’t surprise her.
“I feel very blessed that they were able to thwart this, but it’s something that is a constant possibility for people who speak up on behalf of Palestine,” she said.
