Hoboken Man Charged In Firebomb Plot, U.S. Attorney Says

HOBOKEN, NJ — A Hoboken man was arrested Thursday in an alleged plot to firebomb an activist's home and then leave the country, according to documents released by the U.S. Attorney's Office on Friday.

Alexander Heifler, 26, was charged with a count of unlawful possession of destructive devices and one count of making destructive devices, said a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.

Heifler was expected to appear in federal court in Newark Friday afternoon.

A complaint in the case, submitted by FBI Special Agent Gerald Casertino, details conversations that began in February among Heifler and unnamed conspirators about how to make Molotov cocktails. According to the complaint, an undercover officer was involved in the discussions, then helped Heifler put together eight cocktails inside a Hoboken residence on Thursday night.

According to the complaint, Heifler said he intended to firebomb a person's home as well as cars in the area.

The charges of unlawful possession of destructive devices and making of destructive devices each carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Complaint Details

The FBI complaint in the case says that Heifler was involved in a video call in February with several people, including an undercover law enforcement officer, asking how to create “Molotovs.”

Heifler then told the officer in person that "he wanted to carry out the attack shortly before he left the country," the complaint says.

Heifler also gave a specific address of an intended victim, the complaint said.

On Thursday night, according to the complaint, Heifler met with the undercover officer while carrying a "large bottle of Everclear" liquor.

He also "had other components to make the Molotov cocktails present at his residence," the complaint says.

The undercover officer joined Heifler inside his home and assembled eight Molotov cocktails, the complaint says.

"Heifler wet eight corks and one cork was placed in each of the eight Molotov cocktails," the complaint says. "Heifler also put rags near the Molotov cocktails. Heifler explained that he would not place the rags into the Molotov cocktails until right before the attack on Victim-1’s residence to ensure the efficacy of the Molotov cocktails."

"During the assembly of the Molotov cocktails, reiterated to the [officer] that some of the Molotov cocktails would be thrown at cars and some would be thrown directly into Victim-1’s residence," says the complaint.

According to the complaint, the FBI then executed a search warrant at Heifler's home and recovered the eight explosives.

"[A] field test was positive for the presence of ethanol, a known ignition liquid for improvised incendiary devices," the complaint says.

Intended Victim Identified

Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani said on social media on Friday that the FBI had told her that they had thwarted an attempt on her life in Hoboken the night before.

"Late last night the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force informed me that a plot against my life that was 'about to' take place," she wrote, "and that agents had conducted an operation in Hoboken related to this plot. I will not stop speaking up for the people of Palestine."

Kiswani is the co-chair of the activist group Within Our Lifetime–United for Palestine, which describes itself as a "Palestinian-led community organization that has been building the movement for Palestine in NYC since 2015."

The group has led demonstrations around the area.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Kiswani was the subject of the plot, and that she lives in New York.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, "I am thankful that the NYPD and FBI thwarted this plot, which could have endangered Nerdeen’s life and those of other New Yorkers. Let me be clear: We will not tolerate violent extremism in our city. No one should face violence for their political beliefs or their advocacy."

More Hoboken Patrols

The FBI told Patch on Friday that they had conducted a "court-authorized law enforcement activity" on the city's west side, between Clinton Street and Willow Avenue. Agents had descended on the small, brick-lined Willow Terrace neighborhood.

Hoboken's mayor said Friday that police patrols would increase in the mile-square city in the coming days.

"While this was a federal matter led by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, our local officers were on the scene to ensure the safety of the surrounding neighborhood," Mayor Emily Jabbour told Patch. "Residents can expect to see additional patrols and community policing efforts, particularly in high-traffic and public gathering areas."

Late on Friday, when more details of the alleged plot came to light, Jabbour released a new statement: "Let me state unequivocally that I condemn all acts of hate, extremism, and violence in any form. These actions are contrary to everything Hoboken stands for. Ours is a community rooted in kindness, inclusion, and respect for one another. Acts driven by hate or division have no place here, and we will always stand firmly against them."

Hoboken Neighborhood

Social media lit up Thursday night with sightings of agents.

"HPD is assisting the FBI with an ongoing investigation," a public safety spokesperson had told Patch on Thursday night. "There is no threat to the public at this time."

Earlier on Thursday, a Jersey City bomb squad headed to student housing at the Stevens Institute of Technology to take possession of a World War II-era ordinance, law enforcement officials confirmed. A Hoboken police spokeswoman said Friday that the two matters were unrelated, even though Heifler was a Stevens graduate.