Pennsylvania Man Arrested Near Pittsburgh for Plotting ISIS-Inspired Mass Casualty Attack
Jonathan Hunter Kramer, 21, of Valencia, PA, was arrested Saturday outside a Cranberry Township hotel with a rifle, ammo, and 30 knives. Federal officials say he pledged allegiance to ISIS.
FBI Arrests Valencia Man Accused of Planning ISIS-Inspired Attack in Pennsylvania
A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested Saturday outside a hotel in Cranberry Township, approximately 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, after federal investigators determined he was planning an ISIS-inspired "mass casualty attack" against American civilians, cbsnews.com reports.
Jonathan Hunter Kramer, of Valencia, was taken into custody with a semiautomatic rifle, loaded magazines, a rifle scope, boxes of ammunition, and 30 knives in his possession. A note found among his belongings told people not to look for him. "I cant live In constant Fear," the note read, according to court paperwork.
Richard Evanchec, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, described the planned attack as an "imminent threat of violence inspired by ISIS" at a press conference Tuesday. Federal officials said Kramer had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Syria.
"This defendant made repeated attempts to encourage and coordinate violence through encrypted platforms such as advising others on attack methods, discussing chemical poisons, vehicle attacks, drone delivery explosives and firearms-based assaults," Evanchec said.
A search of Kramer's hotel room and home yielded the weapons cache along with social media correspondence that led investigators to believe an attack was being actively planned. Officials did not provide specifics on the target, timing, or location of the alleged plot.
United States Attorney Troy Rivetti described the FBI investigation leading to Kramer's arrest as "covert" and credited members of the public who initially flagged the suspect's behavior.
"We want to thank the individual who first reported this defendant's dangerous and troubling behavior, as well as the other individuals who agreed to speak to law enforcement this weekend," Rivetti said.
Rivetti added that public cooperation is essential for law enforcement to "prevent horrific crimes from being committed in our community," and called the prosecution "a stark reminder to everyone of the importance of vigilance."
U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA), whose district includes Butler County, issued a statement commending the FBI and law enforcement for apprehending Kramer before any attack could be carried out.
"This disgusting, hate-filled extremism has no place in our nation," Kelly said.
Kramer faces one federal count of receipt or transfer of a firearm or ammunition with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe it would be used to commit a felony or act of terrorism. He waived his right to a detention hearing but requested a preliminary examination hearing, which was scheduled for Wednesday.
Source: NYT US News