By David Shepardson and Maria Caspani
(Reuters) -At the least three synagogues and a museum in New York obtained bomb threats on Saturday however none had been deemed credible by the New York Police Division, a metropolis official and police stated.
Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine stated on X the synagogue bomb threats had been “a transparent hate crime, and a part of a rising development of ‘swatting’ incidents focusing on Jewish establishments.”
“This can be a clear effort to sow concern within the Jewish neighborhood. Can’t be accepted,” he stated.
Antisemitic incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment within the U.S. greater than doubled final yr to a file excessive as anti-Jewish sentiment spiked after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas battle in October, the Anti-Defamation League stated in a report final month.
A police spokesperson stated quite a few threats had been obtained on Saturday, together with an emailed bomb menace to the Brooklyn Museum and one to a synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, with no proof of any explosive machine detected.
Two synagogues in Manhattan additionally obtained bomb threats, together with a West Facet synagogue that prompted police to evacuate about 250 folks, police stated, with nothing discovered.
New York state Governor Kathy Hochul stated on X state officers had been “actively monitoring quite a few bomb threats at synagogues in New York. Threats have been decided to not be credible.”
Hochul added, “We won’t tolerate people sowing concern & antisemitism. These accountable should be held accountable for his or her despicable actions.”
