FBI agents arrested Jonathan Hunter Kramer, 21, after authorities alleged he was preparing an ISIS-inspired attack in Pennsylvania.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 16, 2026
Federal authorities have arrested a 21-year-old Pennsylvania man accused of preparing for an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack after investigators allegedly discovered a semiautomatic rifle, 190 rounds of ammunition and approximately 30 knives.
Jonathan Hunter Kramer, of Valencia in Butler County, was arrested September 12 in Cranberry Township following an FBI investigation into alleged extremist activity. The U.S. Department of Justice announced September 15 that Kramer had been charged by federal criminal complaint with receiving a firearm and ammunition while knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that they would be used to commit a felony or federal crime of terrorism.
The federal complaint alleges that Kramer had been using an online persona identified as “Hamza Al Rashid,” through which investigators say he claimed an affiliation with ISIS, offered to share explosive manuals and discussed preparing for what he described as a “mission.”
Investigation Traced Back to 2023
According to the DOJ, Kramer had previously come to the attention of the FBI in 2023, when he was a minor. Authorities said that earlier investigation involved allegations of planning a mass-casualty incident and possession of child sexual abuse material. He was subsequently adjudicated delinquent by Pennsylvania authorities.
Following his release from a juvenile detention facility, the FBI received an anonymous online tip on March 19, 2026, concerning what the tipster described as troubling behavior, including allegedly receiving unusual packages and reconnecting with people associated with his earlier case.
Investigators subsequently identified the online persona allegedly associated with Kramer and began monitoring his activities.
FBI Says Suspect Obtained Weapon and Ammunition
The investigation intensified on September 12, when FBI agents allegedly observed Kramer leave his residence carrying a bag and travel by rideshare to a retail store, where investigators say he purchased a disposable cellphone.
Authorities allege that Kramer later met another individual in a parking lot and obtained a long black bag from a vehicle before traveling to a hotel in Cranberry Township.
After checking into the hotel, investigators observed Kramer at the gun counter of a sporting-goods store. Agents later approached him in the hotel parking lot as he returned carrying two bags containing items purchased at the store. Kramer agreed to speak with investigators, after which federal search warrants were executed.
Authorities said the searches resulted in the seizure of:
- A semiautomatic rifle
- Five rifle magazines, including two that were loaded
- Approximately 190 rounds of rifle ammunition
- A rifle scope and bipod
- An entrenchment tool
- Pepper spray
- Approximately 30 knives
- A prayer rug
- A handwritten note
The FBI said three of the magazines had 30-round capacities.
Authorities Allege Attack Was Moving Toward Execution
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators believe Kramer was moving beyond online extremist activity and toward preparations for violence.
According to Patel, the investigation allegedly found that Kramer had engaged with ISIS propaganda online, developed attack concepts, repeatedly expressed extremist rhetoric and acquired weapons believed to be connected to preparations for an attack.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg similarly alleged that Kramer appeared to be preparing for a mass shooting after obtaining a rifle and approximately 190 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities have not publicly identified a specific intended target for the alleged attack.
Arrest Came Shortly After 9/11 Anniversary
Kramer’s arrest occurred one day after the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation and arrest prevented the alleged attack before anyone was killed. The FBI and Justice Department credited federal, state and local law-enforcement cooperation with identifying the alleged preparations and intervening before an attack could occur.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Kramer appeared in federal court on September 14. Prosecutors have requested that he remain detained without bond, arguing that he presents a danger to the community. A preliminary examination hearing was scheduled for September 16.
What Happens Next
The allegations against Kramer remain subject to the federal judicial process. The government must prove its case in court, and a criminal complaint is an accusation rather than a finding of guilt.
The Justice Department explicitly states that Kramer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation also illustrates how federal authorities can intervene before an alleged extremist plan reaches the attack stage, particularly when investigators identify a combination of online extremist activity, alleged attack planning and weapons acquisition.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Federal authorities say they arrested Jonathan Hunter Kramer as he was allegedly moving from extremist activity and planning toward acquiring weapons for a potential ISIS-inspired attack. No specific target has been publicly identified, and the allegations will now be tested through the federal court process.
SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – FBI Foils ISIS-Inspired Mass-Shooting Plot in Butler County, Pennsylvania — Same County Where a Gunman Tried to Assassinate President Trump
WCYB – Pennsylvania man charged in alleged ISIS-inspired attack plot arrested day after 9/11
