(PatrioSpotlight.org) – A bomb threat has been forwarded to over two dozen New York synagogues and Jewish organizations.
The threatening message was sent out last Saturday, prompting anxieties and a series of ramped-up security measures and evacuations. The message suggested that a bomb had been planted inside the targeted buildings and warned of major ramifications if it wasn’t disarmed within a few hours.
The email, allegedly originating from a group referring to “Terrorizers111,” stated, “I have set a bomb in your building, you have a few hours to disarm it or else blood will shatter everywhere.” A threat impacted 14 synagogues and Jewish centers in Manhattan, five in Queens, two in Brooklyn, two upstate, and one on Long Island. A similar threat was also sent to the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
These threats come as the city, and the Western world, grapple with a growing wave of anti-Semitism. Anti-Israel protests have popped up on a range of NYC college campuses including Columbia University and City College. The surge in antisemitic incidents comes in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist onslaught in Southern Israel, which prompted a significant Israeli counter-offensive in the neighboring Gaza Strip.
On Sunday May 5 U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a new $400 million in federal funding to be put toward safeguarding houses of worship, including synagogues. There has also been a rise in overall threats to religious sites across the U.S. in recent years.
Civil rights pressure group the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has been monitoring the growth of antisemitic incidents. Across 2023, there were 8,873 incidents recorded in the U.S., with the numbers dramatically increasing subsequent to the October attacks, with over 5,200 antisemitic events reported nationwide after Oct. 7th. 1,009 of the incidents involved bomb threats. The New York Police Department is yet to publish an official statement regarding the bomb threats or their ongoing investigation. Additional patrols and safety precautions remain in place at the relevant sites.
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