NYPD, FBI thwart plot to assassinate NYC Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani

Rocco Parascandola and Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News on Mar 27, 2026

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NEW YORK — The NYPD and federal authorities have arrested a man who planned to firebomb the home of Nerdeen Kiswani, the head of one of the city’s most active pro-Palestinian protest groups, the Daily News has learned.

Alexander Heifler was arrested late Thursday after an NYPD undercover cop who learned of the plot befriended him and helped him build eight Molotov cocktails that he planned to hurl at the home of Kiswani, according to police sources and court documents.

Heifler was federally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful making of a firearm, officials said.

Kiswani, the co-founder of the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime was informed about the plot against her life and the arrest last night, she said on X.

Within Our Lifetime has been pushing for a liberated Palestine since 2015. Kiswani is the daughter of Palestinian refugees.

“(They) informed me that a plot against my life was ‘about to’ take place, and that agents had conducted an operation in Hoboken related to this plot,” she wrote, adding that, recently, pro-Israel organizations “have encouraged violence against my family and me.”

“I will have more to say as additional details come to light,” she said. “I will not stop speaking up for the people of Palestine.”

Heifler’s arrest was first reported in the New York Times.

The undercover cop came across Heifler back on February 10 when the suspected participated in a group video call where he asked if anyone had space where he could practice throwing Molotov cocktails. The undercover cop quickly reached out to Heifler, who told the cop that he had Kiswani’s address and wanted to firebomb her home.

“Drive down in the middle of April,” he told the undercover cop as he outlined his plan, according to court documents, “No IDs, no phones, In and out.”

Over the next few weeks, Heifler did some thorough research on Molotov cocktails and conducted dry runs as he drove past Kiswani’s home. He even told the undercover cop that he had done DNA tests on Molotov cocktails he had built to see if it could pick up any of his genetic material.

When he learned that small traces were found on the test bombs, he told the undercover cop that they would need to wear gloves. He had also made plans to leave the county after hurling the bombs at the Palestinian activist’s home.

They agreed to meet up at Heifler’s home in Hoboken, NJ to make the Molotov cocktails on Thursday night, according to court documents.

Heifler and the undercover cop made eight Molotov cocktails before federal investigator raided the place and took him into custody, officials said.