FBI Arrests Man Accused of Plotting Attack on Jewish Preschool

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a 51-year-old Los Angeles resident on suspicion that he planned to carry out an attack against a Jewish preschool in the city. According to a report published today (Sunday) in the New York Post, the suspect, Steven Duenas, intended to use Molotov cocktails to harm the educational institution, while at the same time posting threats against Jews on social media.

According to the report, American prosecutors described the threats as a plan to carry out a mass-casualty event, aimed at harming the Jewish residents living in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. The allegations against Duenas include both the threats he made online and the intent attributed to him to attack the preschool.

The suspect’s mother, Maria Duenas, spoke with the New York Post about her son’s condition and the circumstances that, she says, led to the decline in his life. According to her, he has gone through a series of personal crises in recent years, including a divorce and the loss of his job with Los Angeles County. She added that his condition was also affected by heavy use of prescription medication and alcohol.

The Jerusalem Post website noted that it had contacted the FBI seeking official confirmation of the details of the report. As of the time of publication, no response had been received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the story is still developing.