A Los Angeles man was arrested by the FBI after making threats against a LA Jewish preschool and allegedly plotting a mass incident against the institution, the New York Post reported on Sunday.
The man, identified in the report as Steven Duenas, 51, allegedly planned to attack the preschool using Molotov cocktails and made threats against the Jews on social media, according to the report.
The report mentioned that prosecutors deemed the threats a plot to conduct a "mass incident," with the objective being the Jewish residents of his LA neighborhood of Los Feliz.
Duenas appeared in court shortly after being arrested for a bail hearing, with the report mentioning that he seemed incapable of maintaining composure during the proceeding to the point that the judge asked him if he wanted to postpone the hearing.
The New York Post added that some of the antisemetic remarks made by Duenas on X included posting that "not enough synagogues have been burned down” and “I just acquired some Tomahawks from Facebook Marketplace, might bomb Jems later.”
Mother says Duenas' life turned 'upside down by divorce, losing job'
Duenas' mother, Maria Duenas, told The New York Post that his son's life had been "turned upside down by a divorce, his firing from his LA County job, and a heavy dose of prescription drugs and alcohol."
"He was sweet, kind; he went to a good school; he was always smiling. I made sure he dressed well, he attended Mass and was an altar boy,” the mother reportedly said.
The Jerusalem Post has reached out to the FBI for confirmation.