A Turkish-born former medical student with family links to Turkey’s government has been indicted over an alleged campaign to terrorize pro-Israel targets in the US.
Ahmet Kerem Korkaya, 28, is among eight defendants charged by federal prosecutors over threats and attacks targeting University of Michigan officials, businesses and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Prosecutors allege that the group gathered personal information on its targets, conducted surveillance and discussed harming officials and their families through poisoning, bombs, arson and “psychological torture.” Korkaya allegedly said that an official’s entire family was on his “hit list” and discussed becoming the physician of another target so he could poison her slowly.
The defendants are also accused of carrying out nighttime attacks on homes and businesses, smashing windows, sealing entrances and throwing jars containing foul-smelling chemicals and dye into buildings. Properties were marked with inverted red triangles associated with Hamas videos, red handprints and slogans including “INTIFADA” and “DIVEST NOW.”