Man arrested for allegedly making Jew-hatred threats against Ben Shapiro

Man arrested for allegedly making Jew-hatred threats against Ben Shapiro

The affidavit, which JNS obtained, stated that the suspect “invoked antisemitic conspiratorial themes as justification for the intended killing, attributing violence to ‘semites,’ to ‘Tel Aviv’ and to ‘a foreign government.’”

Kansas Man Arrested Over Alleged Antisemitic Death Threats Against Ben Shapiro

A 29-year-old Kansas man has been arrested in Florida after allegedly posting a series of antisemitic death threats against Jewish conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, including messages that appeared to count down to an intended attack around Yom Kippur, according to court documents and law enforcement officials. Korby Aaren Strube, of Horton, Kansas, was arrested on Sept. 12 and faces 23 counts related to written or electronic threats to kill or inflict bodily harm, along with two counts involving the alleged use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. According to an affidavit obtained by JNS from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Palm Beach County, Strube allegedly published threatening messages targeting Shapiro on social media on July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. Among the posts cited in the affidavit were statements that he would be “giving the world a boost by killing Ben Shapiro for being Jewish” and that he was “killing this stupid Jew.” Investigators said the alleged threats included explicitly antisemitic language and references to Israel. “He invoked antisemitic conspiratorial themes as justification for the intended killing, attributing violence to ‘semites,’ to ‘Tel Aviv’ and to ‘a foreign government,’” the affidavit stated. Authorities said the posts made on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 also contained countdowns of 52 and 51 days, respectively, until the threatened killing. According to the affidavit, the countdown appeared to point toward Sept. 21-22, corresponding with Yom Kippur this year. The investigation began on Aug. 4 after Fortified Risk Group, a private security firm that provides protection for Shapiro, alerted authorities to the messages. Investigators subsequently worked to identify the person behind the social media account and determined that Strube was allegedly responsible for the posts. Shapiro told investigators that he believed he was being targeted because he is Jewish and that he wanted to pursue charges. The affidavit states that Strube also admitted to posting a threat involving President Donald Trump and the Obamas, although he denied having any intention or desire to kill Trump. Strube acknowledged that he controlled the social media accounts in question but claimed that his computer had been hacked and that his identity might have been stolen. According to investigators, however, that explanation conflicted with his own admissions and with evidence obtained during the investigation from technology, telephone and internet companies. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigation also drew on information from the U.S. Secret Service. According to the arrest report, a Secret Service agent and Brown County Sheriff’s Office officials had visited Strube’s Kansas home on Aug. 4 in connection with alleged threats involving President Trump and the Obamas. During that encounter, Strube allegedly admitted posting threatening material on social media. Strube was subsequently taken into custody in Palm Beach County. Court records cited by local media show that a judge ordered him held without bail following a hearing on Sunday.