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RALEIGH, N.C. – Authorities have arrested two young individuals in connection with a plot to attack a synagogue in Houston, Texas, aiming to “kill as many Jews as possible” by driving through a congregation, according to law enforcement officials and court documents.
The arrests come just weeks after a separate attack on a Detroit-area synagogue, where an armed man rammed his pickup truck into the building. In response to these incidents and ongoing regional tensions, synagogues worldwide have heightened security measures since the outbreak of conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran at the end of February.
Eighteen-year-old Angelina Han Hicks from Lexington, North Carolina, was taken into custody Wednesday and remains held at Davidson County jail on a $10 million bond. She faces two felony charges related to conspiring with two male accomplices to commit murder and assault at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston on April 21, 2028, according to arrest warrants.
The FBI’s Charlotte office confirmed Thursday that a juvenile also was arrested in connection to the plot and charged in Harris County, Texas. Authorities have not confirmed if this juvenile is one of the male co-conspirators named only by first names in the warrants.
Houston Police Department announced the 16-year-old’s arrest on Thursday for conspiracy to commit capital murder tied to threats against Jewish institutions in the area. While the department did not specify Congregation Beth Israel, it emphasized that no other credible threats are currently known. The arrest was made with assistance from the FBI and Houston school district police.
In a court order, District Judge Carlton Terry highlighted the severity of the alleged conspiracy, noting the intent “to kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.” He stressed the importance of detaining Hicks to prevent communication with other conspirators, which could endanger lives.
The FBI’s Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force launched the investigation after receiving a tip Tuesday night. Although court documents reference a potential attack scheduled two years from now, Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin expressed concerns that the threat might be more immediate. The investigation remains active, with no motive disclosed so far.
Hicks’ attorney, Chad Freeman, has yet to comment extensively but indicated that her youth may influence the defense strategy. He plans to involve experts to review investigatory and forensic evidence. Hicks is scheduled for a hearing on May 13.
Congregation Beth Israel, established in the 1850s, is the oldest Jewish house of worship in Texas and includes a school for children through fifth grade. Following the threat, the synagogue closed temporarily on Wednesday but reopened Thursday after consultation with law enforcement. The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston emphasized that community safety remains a top priority.
Lexington, where Hicks resides, is located about 90 miles west of Raleigh.
The recent plot follows an attack on March 12 when Ayman Ghazali, armed and driving a pickup truck, crashed into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Ghazali struck a security guard and exchanged gunfire with another before taking his own life.
None of the roughly 150 children and staff inside were harmed. Ghazali, a U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, reportedly acted after learning that several family members had died in an Israeli airstrike days earlier.