The St. Paul JCC bomb threat was one of five threats called in against Jewish Community Centers on Feb. 20. Dozens of bomb threats against JCCs have occurred around the US since January.
HIGHLAND PARK, MINN – On Monday, the Jewish Community Center in Highland Park was evacuated around 10:45am because of a bomb threat.
St. Paul Police posted a tweet stating the JCC was evacuated with the students moved to a nearby fire station.
The Jewish Community Ctr. in Highland Park was evacuated due to a bomb threat. Students moved to nearby fire station while building cleared.
— St. Paul Police PIO (@sppdPIO) February 20, 2017
At 12:21pm on Monday St. Paul Police posted “SPPD did not find any bombs or dangerous devices at Highland Park Jewish Community Center. Squads clearing scene now, center is re-opening.”
SPPD did not find any bombs or dangerous devices at Highland Park Jewish Community Center. Squads clearing scene now, center is re-opening.
— St. Paul Police PIO (@sppdPIO) February 20, 2017
The Highland Park JCC was not the only Jewish Community Center with a bomb threat. Haaretz.com reports the Highland Park threat was one of five in the US. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Birmingham, Alabama, and two in Buffalo, New York were also evacuated due to bomb threats.
Today’s evacuations add to a growing number of bomb threats made against Jewish community centers across the United States. According to a recent CNN report, “48 JCCs in 26 states and one Canadian province received nearly 60 bomb threats during January, according to the JCCA, an association of JCCs*. Most were made in rapid succession on three days: January 9, 18 and 31. A number of JCCs, including Orlando’s, received multiple threats.”
The FBI is investigating the threats as possible civil rights violations. Following threats to a San Diego Jewish community center in January, the FBI released the following statement:
“The FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats to Jewish Community Centers here in San Diego and across the country,” the agency said in a written statement. “The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner.” (NBCSanDiego.com)
According to Reuters, no group or individual had taken responsibility for the threats made in January. Some of the threats were made through a robo-call system. The Jewish Community Center Association of North America said the threatened centers are working with police and have resumed operations after the buildings were cleared.
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
