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The Jordanian citizenship of the Florida resident charged with attacking a solar farm is under scrutiny following reports from several Arab-language outlets claiming he is not a Jordanian citizen. National Security News (NSN) has uncovered social media posts from the 43-year old’s family that portray a seemingly ordinary life, featuring a partner and three children.
In a series of attacks, Hnaihen smashed windows and attacked a solar power generation facility, causing more than $700,000 in damage.
Hnaihen made threats to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
The Department of Justice stated that Hnaihen began targeting businesses in June 2024.
“The defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
After smashing glass front doors of businesses such as Starbucks, Hnaihen left behind “warning letters”. The letters were addressed to the U.S. government in which he is alleged to have laid out a series of political demands.
His attacks escalated when he broke into a solar power generation facility in Wedgefield, Florida. Hnaihen spent hours destroying a solar farm, smashing panels, cutting wires and targeting critical electronic equipment.
After vandalising the solar facility, he left more copies of his threatening demand letters. These letters were also found at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando.
NSN located Hnaihen’s partner on Facebook, where she is seen posing with him. Social media photos show the family together, offering a glimpse into Hnaihen’s seemingly ordinary life.
Hnaihen was also the owner and manager of a small business relating to property maintenance, which was registered in 2022. The company was dissolved shortly after his arrest.
According to property records, Hnaihen and his family have been residing in a modest three-bedroom mobile home purchased in 2017, suggesting they have lived in the United States since at least that year.
While U.S. authorities have identified Hnaihen as a Jordanian citizen, some Arabic language media outlets dispute this. However, they have provided no concrete evidence to support their claims.
The online report from a Jordanian TV channel quote that “American media assumed that Hnaihen was a Jordanian citizen, which was denied by the State Department operations after following up on the case.”
Hnaihen was arrested after a collaborative effort involving the FBI, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and local police departments.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “The defendant’s alleged actions were motivated by hate and posed a serious threat to our community.”
“Such threats will not be tolerated,” added Garland.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasised this, stating: “Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated,” and that the agency will “pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
“Targeting and attacking businesses for perceived beliefs is unacceptable,” added U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.
Hnaihen faces multiple charges, including threatening to use explosives and destruction of an energy facility. If convicted, he faces up to 60 years in prison with a maximum penalty of 10 years for each of the four threat offenses and 20 years for the destruction offense.
