The indictment further alleges that members of the group carried out acts of intimidation at multiple locations.
By Shula Rosen
Federal prosecutors unsealed a 63-page grand jury indictment Wednesday charging eight anti-Israel activists accused of targeting University of Michigan officials and other organizations as part of a campaign intended to pressure the university to boycott Israel.
The indictment, filed last month in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, was made public Wednesday following reports of a raid in Ypsilanti, located in Washtenaw County.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on social media Wednesday morning that seven individuals had been arrested in connection with the case.
Those named in the indictment are Paige Feyock, Amatullah Hakim, Zainab Hakim, Ahmet Korkaya, Miriam Odeh, Alexander Sepulveda, Colin Weger and Jonathan Zou.
Prosecutors allege the defendants participated in a coordinated effort to intimidate officials at the University of Michigan while also targeting businesses operating in Michigan and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
According to the indictment, the defendants and unnamed co-conspirators used encrypted communications platforms, social media accounts and cooperation with partners overseas to identify, research and target victims.
Prosecutors said information about the activities was later published online as a warning to others.
The indictment further alleges that members of the group carried out acts of vandalism and intimidation at multiple locations.
“Their criminal activity included spray-painting threats, breaking windows, and throwing glass jars filled with noxious chemicals into family homes,” the indictment reads.
Prosecutors also alleged that targets were marked with symbols associated with Hamas.
“They marked their victims with threatening symbols used by Hamas, including red inverted triangles and red handprints. They used the internet and social media to broadcast their message to ensure their threats and commitment to continuing criminal activity were heard by their victims and others who support Israel.”
The indictment alleges that social media and internet platforms were used both to publicize the incidents and to communicate threats directed at the alleged victims.
Federal prosecutors announced the charges after unsealing the indictment Wednesday, and the FBI confirmed arrests connected to the case.
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