Young Pennsylvania man arrested over alleged ISIS-inspired mass attack plot targeting synagogues

A search of Kramer’s home in 2023, when he was still a minor, uncovered a video in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was the leader of ISIS at the time.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh said that a thwarted mass-casualty plot by a 21-year-old Butler County man, allegedly inspired by ISIS, saved countless lives.

Jonathan Hunter Kramer was arrested by the FBI outside a Cranberry Township hotel on Saturday, according to federal investigators. Officials stated that Kramer was found with a rifle, dozens of knives, and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition as he prepared to carry out an attack.

Shawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, stated in an interview with CBS Pittsburgh that community vigilance and tips from concerned citizens were vital in stopping the plot. "I was thrilled that the plot had been thwarted but concerned to see what he had been doing," Brokos told CBS.

"It's those concerned citizens who call in and agree to cooperate and share information that's the key to success, and that's what saved countless lives because we don't know where he was headed," Brokos added.

Federal court documents detail that Kramer's alleged allegiance to the terrorist group dates back to when he was a minor. A search of Kramer’s home in 2023, when he was still a minor, uncovered a video in which he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was the leader of ISIS at the time.

He first came on the FBI's radar in April 2023 at the age of 16 or 17 after posting threatening statements online and sharing instructions on how to make explosives under the username "Nikolas Cruz."

ISIS-inspired suspect linked with plotting mass casualty event, possessing child sex abuse material

Following those incidents, he was found responsible for plotting a mass casualty event and possessing child sex abuse material, subsequently spending time in a juvenile detention center in Oil City until his release in March.

Investigators stated that after returning home, Kramer corresponded with individuals across multiple social platforms regarding potential targets for massacres, including nightclubs, theaters, concerts, apartment buildings, hotels, protests, and schools with low security, alongside discussing methods such as poisoning food at synagogues.

"Please know we are in close contact with our law enforcement partners and federal prosecutors, and if we learn of anything concerning, we will share that immediately," the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh stated in a security update published on its website on Friday.

Following the arrest, the organization maintained elevated security measures across local facilities as communities observed religious holidays.