Police on alert after false bomb threat to synagogue

RIDGEPORT — Just two days prior to the oneyear anniversary of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Bridgeport’s Congregation B’Nai Israel received what was investigated as a false threat Friday afternoon that may have been timed to coincide with that anniversary.

Congregation B’Nai Israel, at 2710 Park Ave., got a hangup call followed by a second call in which a bomb threat was relayed to a staff member who picked up the phone, according to Rabbi Evan Schultz during a news conference with police and city officials. Police spokesman Terron Jones said it was a male caller and that the calls happened around 2 p.m.

Later Friday night, police said they tracked down the caller. Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said the threat was called in by a Florida man in his 60s.

“This male has documented mental health history and has made these type of calls in the past,” Fitzgerald said. “We are in touch with his family and they are taking measures to keep him away from access to telephones.”

On Oct. 27, 2018, a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Congregation, killing 11 people. The AntiDefamation League said it was likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the nation’s history. The ADL could not immediately be reached for comment Friday about the Bridgeport threat.

Perez said police weren’t sure whether the threat was sparked by the upcoming anniversary of the deadly Pittsburgh shooting, but that it was something law enforcement considered as they investigated.