In an announcement made on Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the arrest of several college-aged activists who are suspected of orchestrating a year-long campaign involving intimidation, vandalism, and threats. The campaign was reportedly aimed at pressuring the University of Michigan, along with various businesses and institutions linked to the Jewish community, to sever ties with Israel.
According to details in a federal indictment, the accused individuals allegedly carried out coordinated attacks, which included spray-painting provocative messages such as “Intifada” and “Free Palestine” on homes, leaving threatening notes at the doors of their targets, and causing damage to private properties throughout eastern Michigan.
“Over the course of more than a year, these individuals allegedly engaged in a systematic campaign characterized by violence and intimidation, spurred by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel,” Patel stated in a release to News Agency. “This involved property vandalism, the dissemination of threatening messages, and even violent actions against homes while families, including children, were inside.”
The alleged activities primarily targeted key figures at the University of Michigan, as well as elected officials, business proprietors, and a law enforcement officer.
Federal investigators have detailed that the purported conspiracy spanned from March 2024 until April 2025. Throughout this period, the group is believed to have utilized encrypted messaging services and social media platforms to select and coordinate their targets, and to share their actions with the public.
