Queens District Attorney employee charged in suspected refugee shelter bombing

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QUEENS, NY – An employee of the Queens District Attorney’s Office has been charged with attempting to build a bomb with the alleged intent of attacking a refugee shelter in Elmhurst, according to police reports released this week. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Derek Klever, worked as a trial preparation assistant at the office.

Authorities allege Klever was gathering materials to construct an explosive device, allegedly out of frustration with noise and parties at the Kamway Lodge, a small hostel in Elmhurst that the city was using to temporarily house migrants arriving from the U.S.-U.S. border arrived in Mexico.

Police officers continue to investigate Klever’s background and possible additional motives behind the alleged conspiracy. No information was released about how far along Klever was in planning or building the device.