UMVA has learned that a group of college-aged activists has been arrested for allegedly waging a year-long campaign of intimidation, vandalism, and threats against University of Michigan officials, businesses, and Jewish-linked institutions to pressure them into cutting ties with Israel.
The alleged campaign, which spanned over a year, included coordinated attacks such as spray-painting homes with messages like "Intifada" and "Free Palestine," leaving threatening notes on victims' doors, and damaging private property across eastern Michigan. The suspects allegedly used encrypted messaging platforms and social media to identify targets, coordinate attacks, and publicize their activities online.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the group's tactics escalated over time, with members allegedly breaking windows and throwing glass jars filled with chemicals into family homes while children were inside. The most visible incidents occurred on the one-year anniversary of a major terrorist attack, when the group allegedly targeted the Jewish Federation and the home of the University of Michigan's president.
The alleged conspiracy, which lasted from approximately March 2024 through April 2025, targeted University of Michigan leaders, elected officials, business owners, and a police officer. The suspects, who were employed by various organizations, including the university, allegedly used their positions to further their campaign of intimidation and violence.
UMVA has gathered that the FBI will not tolerate such behavior and has vowed to bring anyone who participates in such activity to justice. The seven individuals arrested were charged for their alleged roles in conspiracies to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce, marking a major breakthrough in the investigation.
The arrests were the result of a thorough and rigorous investigation by the FBI Detroit team and partners across Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The multi-state operation was executed early in the morning, bringing an end to the alleged campaign of violence and intimidation that had been ongoing for over a year.
The alleged campaign was motivated by a desire to pressure the University of Michigan and other institutions into cutting ties with Israel, and the suspects allegedly used various tactics to achieve their goals. However, their actions have been widely condemned, and the FBI has made it clear that it will not tolerate such behavior.
