A 42-year-old man, Alier Ojeda Salas, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly threatening to detonate explosives at a Jewish center in Miami Beach, Florida, according to a police report. The incident unfolded when Salas approached a security guard stationed between a school and a synagogue within the center. The police report mentioned that the guard, referred to as Mr. Maya, was wearing a traditional Jewish head covering, a yarmulke, at the time.
Salas reportedly declared himself as a member of Hamas before indicating a plastic bag he was carrying, claiming it contained the explosive material C-4. Upon being asked to reiterate his statement, Salas repeated his affiliation with Hamas and his intention regarding the explosive material.
Reacting promptly, Mr. Maya alerted both the school and Beth Israel Congregation about the threat, leading to an immediate lockdown of the school and the relocation of students to a safer area. He then notified the Miami Beach police and kept a watchful eye on Salas as he began to walk away until the authorities arrived to detain him.
The police report also noted the presence of multiple Orthodox Jewish individuals in the vicinity where Salas was apprehended, underscoring the potential danger posed to the community.
