April 24 (UPI) — Authorities in North Carolina and Texas have arrested two teenagers accused of conspiring to attack a Houston synagogue, according to police and court documents.
The two suspects were separately arrested: 18-year-old Angelina Han Hicks of Lexington, N.C., on Wednesday and an unnamed 16-year-old in Texas’ Harris County on Thursday, according to authorities.
Detectives with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and FBI agents detained Hicks at her Lexington, N.C., home after the FBI Charlotte Field Office received information that the 18-year-old was planning violence targeting Jews.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office said the tip was received Tuesday evening.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office announced Hicks’ arrest in a statement Thursday, identifying the targeted synagogue as Houston’s Congregation Beth Israel.
Court documents allege that Hicks was in a conspiracy “to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.”
Few specifics about the alleged plot were detailed. Two male co-conspirators were identified in the court documents only as Angel and Teegan. Their last names appeared unknown to police and neither subject was in police custody as of 3 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
The Houston Police Department confirmed in a statement on Thursday that a juvenile had been arrested in the case, identifying the subject as only a 16-year-old whose arrest was conducted with the assistance of the Alief Independent School District Police Force Department.
It was unclear if the detained 16-year-old was either Angel or Teegan.
Hicks was being held at the Davidson County jail on a $10 million bond, according to jail records, which state she has been charged with two counts of felony conspiracy.
She made her initial court appearance following her arrest, with the court determining that “preventative detention is necessary in this case to prevent communication or access to communication which is likely to place lives at risk,” court documents said.
Congregation Beth Israel issued a statement Thursday evening thanking law enforcement “for their swift action, partnership and steady guidance throughout this process.”
“From the moment we were made aware, our teams worked closely together and remained in constant communication with law enforcement, following their direction every step of the way,” the synagogue said.
“We know the past day has been unsettling. Please know that the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and congregants remains our highest priority, and that we will continue to lead with care and intention, guided by trusted partners and a shared commitment to one another’s well-being.”
The arrests comes amid heightened concern for Jews and Jewish institutions following a rise in anti-Semitic threats and violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Concerns have been renewed since the start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran on Feb. 28.
Synagogues and other Jewish establishments have recently been targeted with violence, prompting authorities in Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe to increase security for their Jewish communities.
On Monday, British authorities announced the arrest of two teens in connection with an attempted arson of a synagogue in London, where there have been at least five separate arson attacks targeting its Jewish community since March 23.
Last month, 41-year-old Ayman Ghazali drove a vehicle into a Detroit synagogue in what authorities said was a Hezbollah-motivated terrorist attack, resulting in his death and a wounded security guard.
Beth Israel was closed on Wednesday, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, which said local law enforcement agencies were increasing patrols around Houston-area Jewish institutions.
“After significant discussions with both the FBI and HPD, we have been advised that it is safe for other local Jewish institutions to remain open,” the organization said in a statement.
About the Author
