A delegation of Jewish leaders with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions March 30, 2017, at the Department of Justice. Photo: JCC Association of North America.

JNS.org – The US Justice Department filed criminal charges Friday against an Israeli-American teenager who is accused of making more than 150 bomb threats against Jewish institutions in early 2017, stoking fears of rising antisemitism.

“Today’s charges into these violent threats to Jewish Community Centers and others represent this department’s commitment to fighting all forms of violent crime,” US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said.

The 18-year-old suspect, whose identity remains under gag order, was arrested in March in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon following a joint investigation by American and Israeli authorities.

The teen has been charged with 28 counts of making threatening phone calls and divulging false information to police. The suspect also allegedly issued threatening phone calls during the past three years to institutions in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the Israel Police, the teenager is also suspected of issuing a bomb threat to Delta Airlines in February 2015, causing an emergency landing.