Jordanian arrested for allegedly destroying solar farm in Florida over perceived support of Israel

A Jordanian national was arrested in connection to a planned attack on a Florida solar farm, the Department of Justice announced. Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen was arrested on July 11, though news of his arrest was only made public on Thursday. 

Hnaihen, 43, of Orlando, was charged with four counts of destruction of an energy facility and threatening to use explosives.

Beginning around June 2024, Hnaihen targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area, according to the DOJ, believing they were supporters of Israel. “According to court documents, beginning around June 2024, Hnaihen targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area for their perceived support for the State of Israel. Wearing a mask, under the cover of night, Hnaihen smashed the glass front doors of businesses and left behind 'Warning Letters'” the DOJ said.

Hnaihen is accused of smashing the glass in doors and leaving behind letters listing out political demands, which culminated in a threat to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.” 

The DOJ alleges that Hnaihen’s attacks escalated through June, and he attacked a solar farm in Wedgefield, Florida, where the DOJ says he spent hours systematically destroying solar panels, cutting wires and targeting critical electronic equipment. The vandalism caused more than $700,000 in damage. 

“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel. Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country’s critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.

The DOJ press releases adds that "An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty."

The court docket for the federal Middle District of Florida has not yet been updated to include details of the arrest and indictment, and Just the News was unable to locate Hnaihen or his attorney for comment.