Israeli Police arrest Jewish teen suspected of threatening Jewish community

Michael Kaydar, 19, was arrested Thursday by Israeli Police in connection with a series of bomb threats worldwide against Jewish community centers, schools, and museums in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Judge Amit Michles ordered Kaydar held until March 30 and ordered the teen to have a medical exam. His attorney, Galit Bash, said her client was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor when he was 14-years-old and it could affect his cognitive behavior and lead to irrational behavior.

She also stated that he was rejected for military service, deemed medically unfit, though most Israelis are drafted into service.

Kaydar’s father was also ordered held until March 30 on suspicion that he might have been known of the threats or been involved. His father, however, denies any knowledge of the threats, according to his lawyer, Eran Rau.

Kaydar’s background and police discoveries

Though Kaydar has never lived in the U.S., he has dual Israeli and American citizenship. Attorneys for father and son stated that the teen is an only child, lived with his parents and was home-schooled, which is not usual in Israel.

Israeli cybercrime police arrested Kaydar after partially following information from the FBI. Police seized 5 computers and antennas he is accused of using to access others’ networks and to evade detection. Israeli Police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said Kaydar used “advanced camouflage technologies.”

Authorities have not offered a motive or state how many threats – against Jewish institutions – Kaydar is suspected of making. The FBI held a conference with leaders of Jewish organizations following Kaydar’s arrest. The news evoked mixed reactions.

Reaction to news of Kaydar’s arrest in Israel

According to the Anti-Defamation League (since January), Jewish institutions across the country have been targeted by 165 bomb threats against schools, synagogues and ADL offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League said, while the motive is not, yet, known, the impact is clear: “These were acts that terrorized a community just because of their faith.”