Defending Israel with X-rays

Undercover operation nabs men who turned to Jewish organizations for help in funding radiation weapon

ALBANY, New York (AP) — Federal authorities on Wednesday accused two upstate New York men of assembling a portable X-ray weapon that they intended to use to secretly sicken opponents of Israel.

Prosecutors said 49-year-old Glendon Scott Crawford and 54-year-old Eric J. Feight have been charged with conspiracy to provide support to terrorists following a yearlong undercover investigation.

Investigators said Crawford approached Jewish organizations looking for people to help him with technology that could be used to surreptitiously deliver damaging and even lethal doses of radiation against those he considered enemies of Israel. They assembled the mobile device, which was to be controlled remotely, but it was inoperable and nobody was hurt.

The damaging effects of the radiation would have appeared only days later, authorities said.

Both men were scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday in Albany. They could face up to 15 years in prison.

“This case demonstrates how we must remain vigilant to detect and stop potential terrorists, who so often harbor hatred toward people they deem undesirable,” U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said.

The investigation by the FBI in Albany and police agencies began in April 2012 after authorities received information that Crawford had approached the Jewish organizations.

FBI Special Agent Andrew Vale said efforts to thwart violent plots require public help.