Man accused in Jewish Center bomb plot faces new charge

MIAMI (AP) – A South Florida man accused of trying to detonate a bomb at a synagogue and Jewish school during Passover observances is facing a new charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami reports in a news release that 40-year-old James Medina was indicted Thursday on a charge of attempting to damage religious property. He was charged in May with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

The FBI says Medina plotted with an undercover informant to acquire a bomb to attack the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center in April. Medina was arrested after the informant provided him with a real-looking dummy bomb that could not explode.

FBI recordings show Medina allegedly supported the Islamic State terrorist group and claimed an obligation to attack Jews in the U.S.

Medina’s lawyer says he suffers from long-term mental illness.