Manhunt: Bat-Wielding Intruder Vandalizes Office of Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

Newark, N.J. — November 13, 2025  Authorities launched a full-scale manhunt Thursday for a suspect described as a "radical lunatic" who stormed the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in Newark, New Jersey, wielding a baseball bat and unleashing chaos by smashing property before vanishing into the night.

The brazen incident unfolded Wednesday evening around 5 p.m., when the unidentified man first approached the federal building housing Habba's office, bat in hand, according to sources familiar with the matter. Security personnel swiftly intervened, denying him entry and forcing him to leave the weapon behind. Undeterred, the intruder returned shortly thereafter—sans bat—and was inexplicably allowed inside the facility.

Once on the seventh floor, where Habba's office is located, the man erupted into a frenzy of incoherent yelling and wanton destruction, shattering furniture, equipment, and other property in what officials described as a targeted act of vandalism.

Though Habba herself was not physically harmed and was reported to be "ok," the attack has sent shockwaves through the Department of Justice, raising alarms about escalating threats against high-profile federal officials.

In a fiery statement posted to X early Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi decried the assault as an intolerable assault on justice itself. "Last night, an individual attempted to confront one of our U.S. Attorneys—my dear friend

@USAttyHabba

—destroyed property in her office, and then fled the scene," Bondi wrote. "Thankfully, Alina is ok. Any violence or threats of violence against any federal officer will not be tolerated. Period. We will find this person, and the individual will be brought to justice."

Bondi vowed to deploy "every legal tool available" to safeguard prosecutors and agents, emphasizing that the DOJ would hold "violent offenders fully accountable."

Habba, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and his former personal attorney—who famously defended him in high-stakes civil fraud trials and other legal battles—responded with characteristic defiance on X. "I will not be intimidated by radical lunatics for doing my job," she declared, underscoring her resolve amid the turmoil.

Sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey just eight months ago on March 28, 2025, Habba oversees a sprawling portfolio of federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigations across the state, from Newark to Camden and Trenton.

Her rapid ascent from Trump's legal firebrand to a key DOJ figure has made her a lightning rod in polarized political circles.FBI Director Kash Patel echoed Bondi's outrage in a separate statement, labeling the episode "a disturbing escalation in politically motivated violence" and pledging the bureau's full resources to the pursuit.

 Investigators have yet to publicly identify the suspect or disclose a motive, though the timing—mere weeks after Habba's office thwarted an alleged ISIS-linked terror plot targeting Jewish communities in the state—has fueled speculation of deeper ideological undercurrents.

 It's unclear if the man explicitly threatened Habba or referenced her Trump ties, but the incident has reignited debates over security lapses at federal sites and the rising tide of intimidation against Trump-era appointees.

Law enforcement sources told The New York Times that video footage from the building's surveillance system captured the man's movements, providing crucial leads as agents comb Newark's streets and review potential digital footprints.

 The DOJ has urged the public to come forward with tips, warning that "violence against those who uphold the rule of law will be met with swift and decisive action."

As the search drags into its second day, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the perils facing public servants in an era of heightened partisanship. For Habba, whose career has been defined by courtroom battles on behalf of the 47th president, this latest confrontation is just another front in the war for justice—one she insists she will not yield.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the manhunt continues.

17GEN4.com