Man Arrested for Explosives Threats and Attack on Energy Facility

Posted on August 16, 2024

Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, a Jordanian citizen residing in Orlando, Florida, is charged with four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility, officials stated.

At his detention hearing yesterday, Hnaihen was ordered detained pending trial.

“Under the guise of expressing his beliefs, the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility and threatened local businesses, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. “

According to court documents, beginning around June 2024, Hnaihen targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area for their perceived support for Israel.

Wearing a mask, under the cover of night, Hnaihen smashed the glass front doors of businesses and left behind “Warning Letters.”

Photo of a glass door, with the bottom panel shattered.
Photo of a glass door with large crack contained in the lower half of the glass
Supplement to motion for detention. Damage at two of the targeted businesses
In his letters, which were addressed to the United States government, Hnaihen laid out a series of political demands, culminating in a threat to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
Photo of field lined with trees on the right side and multiple computer generated red rectangle outlines over parts of field
Aerial photo of the solar panel field Hnaihen attacked with targeted panel areas outlined in red

Photo of solar panel with cracked glass
Supplement to motion for detention. Solar panels with cracked glass that Hnaihen attacked

Hnaihen’s attacks escalated. At the end of June, as law enforcement worked to identify the masked attacker, Hnaihen broke into a solar power generation facility in Wedgefield, Florida, and spent hours systematically destroying solar panel arrays.

He smashed panels, cut wires, and targeted critical electronic equipment. Hnaihen left behind two more copies of his threatening demand letter.

Hnaihen is believed to have caused more than $700,000 in damage.

Following a multiagency effort, law enforcement identified Hnaihen.

It arrested him on July 11, shortly after another “Warning Letter” threatening to “destroy or explode everything” was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando.

Hnaihen is charged with four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each threat offense and a maximum penalty of 20 years for destroying an energy facility.

The FBI and Orange County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan for the Middle District of Florida is prosecuting the case.