American-Israeli Jew who threatened Jewish centres charged

An 18-year-old American-Israeli Jew who was suspected of being behind a series of bomb threats against Jewish centres has been formally charged by the US Justice Department.

Michael Ron David Kadar, who was arrested by Israeli police last March, has been charged in Florida and Georgia with making threatening interstate communications, making interstate threats related to explosives, conveying false information and perpetuating a hoax and cyberstalking, reported NBC News.

Kadar is accused of making threats as far back as August 2015 to elementary schools in Georgia as well as “swatting” calls to a private residence there.

Government officials believe that Kader threatened Jewish community centres, airports, schools and specific commercial airline flights, over a course of two years.

FBI investigation revealed that Kadar disguised his voice through text-to-voice services or a spoofing application and used the terms “bloodbath” and “bomb” repeatedly in his calls. To further mask his location he used an antenna attached to a cable from his home in Israel that would allow him to use multiple Wi-Fi systems in his neighbourhood, authorities added.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice did not know whether Kadar would be extradited to the United States to face charges. He’s currently being detained in Israel and faces charges there for the same threats.