A Gainesville man, Forrest Pemberton, has been detained under suspicion of plotting an attack on a pro-Israeli advocacy group's office, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Law enforcement authorities arrested Pemberton after locating him with an AR-15 rifle, a 9mm Luger pistol, and a Galil rifle, as reported by CBS News. The firearms and ammunition were seized at a traffic stop when Pemberton was observed entering a rideshare vehicle.
The investigation, according to court documents, had started in late December when Pemberton's father reported his son missing and possibly armed. Pemberton has been charged with stalking, and he is to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on January 6. While the specific organization targeted was not named in the Justice Department's complaint, statements align with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which was purportedly scouted by Pemberton for a potential attack. AIPAC, in a statement obtained by Jewish Breaking News, said “We take these threats very seriously and are working closely with law enforcement. We will not be deterred by extremists in pursuing our mission to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. We are deeply appreciative of the FBI’s work to stop this individual.”
In interviews with the authorities, Pemberton admitted to having been at the organization’s office in Plantation to "scout" the location. He had planned to see if he could gain entry to the building and potentially return with firearms. "It would have been a one-way ticket, in Plantation, I decided wasn't ready. I gave up," Pemberton was quoted in the complaint, suggesting a discontinuation of his initial plan. Court documents further revealed his expressed frustrations over the organization's political influence, stating “see if I could make a change,” according to CBS News.
Authorities were alerted by Pemberton’s father who found a letter hinting at potential violence and the end of his son’s own life. In the Justice Department's account of Pemberton's interrogation, he stated that his death would have served as an escape if he were to be captured, saying he "hadn't gotten that far yet." The Federal Defenders Office, representing Pemberton, has declined to comment on the ongoing case as noted by CBS News.
