By Gus Saltonstall
More than two dozen synagogues and other Jewish sites, including one on the Upper West Side, received false bomb threats on Saturday, according to local officials and reports.
Rodeph Sholom, on West 83rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, was evacuated a little after 3 p.m. on Saturday, following an emailed threat, in order for police to sweep the building.
“The NYPD 20th Precinct asked us to evacuate the building as a precaution,” Rodeph Sholom wrote Saturday night on its Facebook. “Following a thorough search, the building was deemed clear. We are grateful for the response from the NYPD, who, in partnership with our professional security team, completed a thorough investigation of the situation.”
“Sadly, threats to Jewish institutions across the country have increased and this afternoon’s threat was part of an ongoing, broader effort,” the UWS congregation’s spokesperson added. “Congregation Rodeph Sholom remains steadfast in our commitment to your safety and security.”
Authorities deemed that, in addition to synagogues and Jewish sites in New York City, some in upstate New York and on Long Island received emailed bomb threats on Saturday, according to the New York Post. “‘Hello, if you see this email just have notice of a bomb I have set inside of your building,'” the email read. “‘This isn’t a threat. I have set a bomb in your building, you have a few hours to disarm or else blood will shatter everywhere.'”
None of the bomb threats were found to be credible.
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They were bomb threats. I think that calling those “false bomb threats” minimizes the reality of these being, in fact, bomb THREATS. The senders threatened that there were bombs placed. That was a real threat. Even if there were no bombs found. FWIW.
Exactly. The bombs were false, the threats were real.
I’m so sorry for all my neighbors. 😔
Hopefully some of those threats can be traced back to the wannabe terrorists that called them in.
Likely inspired by the anti-semitism of the protestors at Columbia and elsewhere.