A Chatham County man pleaded guilty to charges after causing a bomb scare that disrupted an office park and prompted emergency responses from multiple agencies. Mohamed Arafat Afaneh, 28, admitted to creating a false bomb threat on social media, leading to his current facing of up to five years in federal prison along with possible substantial financial penalties, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
According to the guilty plea, Afaneh shared a post on Facebook and Instagram on November 17, 2023, claiming a bomb was to detonate inside the WTOC Center. Steinberg pointed out, "Bomb threats terrorize innocent people and needlessly burden first responders with identifying and investigating the reported danger" in her attempt to emphasize the serious nature of such hoaxes. Afaneh's actions precipitated the evacuation of buildings, including a federal courthouse and a television station, and necessitated the intervention of the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and local law enforcement, as noted in a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The fabricated threat was speedily debunked by investigators, but not before creating a significant disturbance. "We will not normalize violent threats in America, whether targeting businesses, federal courthouses, or average citizens," Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden told the U.S. Attorney's Office website. Afaneh was apprehended on unrelated state charges and is currently being held by U.S. Marshals.
The FBI is investigating a case where Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner will prosecute. U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that threats like these increase global tensions and will lead to severe consequences for those involved. For more information about Afaneh's sentencing and the case, contact Barry L. Paschal, Public Affairs Officer, at 912-652-4422.
