A California man who explicitly demanded police arrest him for terrorism after threatening to bomb synagogues now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, exposing the deadly escalation of online antisemitic hatred targeting religious communities. His case highlights the dangerous progression from online rhetoric to credible threats of mass violence.
Story Highlights
- Elijah Alexander King threatened to “blow up every synagogue in a 20-mile radius” on social media.
- King immediately searched for synagogue locations and told police to “report me for terrorism”.
- Despite a psychiatric evaluation, he continued antisemitic harassment of law enforcement.
- Federal trial scheduled for January 13, 2026, with a potential 20-year prison sentence.
Federal Charges Target Explicit Synagogue Threats
Elijah Alexander King, 36, of San Luis Obispo, California, posted explicit threats on X under the account “Billy Badass” on August 28, 2024. King wrote, “I’m gonna blow up every synagogue in a 20-mile radius,” followed by, “This is a real threat, send the police and report me for terrorism.” Within 10 minutes, King conducted multiple phone searches for “synagogue” and “synagogue near me,” demonstrating clear intent to locate targets for his threatened attack.
California Man Arraigned for Making Bomb Threats to Synagogues https://t.co/4t0VoTqjUD
— Doc (@Sdockt) November 28, 2025
Continued Antisemitic Harassment Despite Police Intervention
San Luis Obispo police transported King to a psychiatric facility for evaluation after the Western States Information Network alerted them to his posts. Despite being found “calm, lucid, not medicating” and requiring no medication, King expressed “excitement regarding the attention he was receiving from law enforcement.” After his release, King escalated his behavior by sending racist voicemails and emails to Detective Marquez, who had placed him on psychiatric hold, calling the detective a “DEI joke put in power by jews.”
Multi-Agency Investigation Reveals Pattern of Escalation
King’s social media account contained extensive antisemitic rhetoric and praise for Adolf Hitler, predating his explicit threats. He shared images of weapon,s including handguns, knives, and mace, while promoting “Jew control” conspiracy theories. The Western States Information Network, a multi-state law enforcement intelligence agency, identified and reported King’s threatening posts to local authorities, demonstrating the interstate nature of his criminal activity.
Federal Prosecution Sends Strong Message
King was arraigned on November 25, 2025, in Los Angeles federal court on three counts: threats and false information regarding explosives, threats by interstate communication, and false information and hoaxes. He pleaded not guilty to all charges despite documented evidence of his posts and subsequent synagogue searches. The federal prosecution demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting religious institutions from violent threats, with King facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
This case exposes the dangerous progression from online hate speech to credible threats of mass violence against Jewish communities. King’s explicit awareness of his criminal conduct, combined with his persistent harassment of law enforcement, reveals the calculated nature of antisemitic extremism that threatens the safety and security of religious Americans nationwide.
Watch the report: San Luis Obispo man charged for online threats to bomb local synagogues
Sources:
- California Man Faces Up to 15 Years for Threat to ‘Blow Up Every Synagogue in a 20-Mile Radius’
- Report Me Terrorism: CA Man’s Synagogue Bomb Threats Lands Him Federal Court
- Man Arraigned on Charges He Threatened to Blow Up Central Coast Synagogues
- San Luis Obispo Man Accused of Online Threats Against Synagogues Charged in Federal Court
- San Luis Obispo Man Arrested for Bomb Threats Targeting Synagogues on Social Media
