FBI investigation thwarts “mass casualty attack” from Pennsylvania man accused of pledging ISIS allegiance

Updated on: September 15, 2026 / 12:51 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

Federal law enforcement officials and representatives from the U.S. Attorney's office are detailing the arrest of a Pennsylvania man accused of planning an attack in support of ISIS.

Jonathan Kramer, 21, of Valencia, was arrested Saturday outside of a hotel in Cranberry Township, around 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, after the FBI said he was planning an attack in support of ISIS.

Federal law enforcement officials said during a press conference that Kramer had armed himself to carry out a mass casualty attack against the American people after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Syria.

Richard Evanchec, special agent in charge for the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, called the planned attack an "imminent threat of violence inspired by ISIS."

Officials didn't elaborate on any specifics surrounding the alleged planned attack, including when or where it might have occurred.

"This defendant made repeated attempts to encourage and coordinate violence through encrypted platforms such as advising others on attack methods, discussing chemical poisons, vehicle attacks, drone delivery explosives and firearms-based assaults," Evanchec said.

Investigators said a search of Kramer's hotel room and home led to the discovery of a…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/