Bomb threats made against Jewish temples, centers across Pennsylvania
The FBI and local police agencies on Thursday were investigating bomb threats made to synagogues across Pennsylvania, including Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown, the Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia and Shir Ami synagogue in Newtown Township in Bucks County.
“The FBI is investigating a series of bomb threats targeting synagogues in Pennsylvania and multiple other states across the country,” Carrie Adamowski, spokesperson for the FBI Philadelphia, said in an email.
“Although at this time no explosive devices related to these threats have been found, we continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and will remain vigilant to protect our communities,” Adamowski said, adding that anyone with information about suspicious activity or potential threats should report it to local law enforcement or to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
Allentown police said Sons of Israel, an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, received a false report of a bomb, which was under investigation.
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a significant uptick in antisemitism and Islamaphobia in the Philadelphia area and nationwide.
Allentown police investigated a hoax bomb threat against Congregation Keneseth Israel, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Allentown, on Oct. 19, a little less than two weeks after Hamas’ surprise attack in which it killed about 1,200 people in Israel.
Shortly after noon Thursday, police in Newtown Township, Bucks County, responded to an emailed bomb threat sent to Shir Ami synagogue, the police department said in a statement.
Children at the synagogue’s school were evacuated to an alternate site while police investigated, including with bomb-sniffing dogs. No bomb was found.
Phil Nordlinger, executive director of Shir Ami, said in a phone interview that the synagogue received its email around 11:45 a.m. The sender claimed that multiple bombs had been hidden inside the synagogue and demanded $50,000 to be delivered in briefcases to an address in Hazleton.
Similar or identical emails were sent to other synagogues in the Philadelphia region, Nordlinger said.
In Philadelphia, Nina Peskin, executive director of the Germantown Jewish Centre, said in a message to members that office staff received an emailed bomb threat just after 11:10 a.m. Thursday.
Peskin said children participating in an early childhood program were moved into the facility’s sanctuary while police quickly responded, including with a K-9 unit. No bomb was found.
Lt. Adam Reed of the Pennsylvania State Police said in an email that his agency was aware of “multiple bomb threats received across the Commonwealth today. While the investigations and immediate responses would be handled by the law enforcement agency where the threat was received, PSP continues to monitor these threats and share information with our law enforcement partners and community stakeholders.”