HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — The FBI said on Thursday it had received credible information about a “broad” threat to synagogues in New Jersey, a warning that promoted some municipalities to send extra police officers to guard houses of worship.
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The nature of the threat was vague. The FBI’s Newark office released a statement urging synagogues to “take all security precautions to protect your community and facility,” but wouldn’t say anything about who made the threat or why.
The alert was posted after officials discovered an online threat directed broadly at synagogues in New Jersey, a law enforcement official said. The posting did not target any specific synagogue by name, the official said. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Messages left with the FBI’s Newark office weren’t returned.
Public warnings about nonspecific threats against Jewish institutions, made by a variety of groups including Christian supremacists and Islamist extremists, aren’t unusual in the New York City metropolitan area, and many turn out to be false alarms. But the area has also seen deadly attacks.
In Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop said police would be posted at the city’s seven synagogues and foot patrols would be added in the broader Jewish community. In 2019, two assailants motivated by anti-Jewish hate killed a police officer, then drove to a kosher market in Jersey City and killed three more people, before being slain in a gun battle with police.
Police officers armed with rifles guarded a synagogue one city over, in Hoboken, where the public safety director also announced increased patrols in Jewish communities.
Five years ago, two New Jersey men were sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted for a series of attacks in 2012 that included the firebombings of two synagogues. They also threw a Molotov cocktail into the home of a rabbi as he slept with his wife and children.
In 2019, a man stabbed five people at a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi’s home in an Orthodox Jewish community north of New York City, fatally wounding one person.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, said he was “concerned and outraged” by the latest threat against Jews.
“I am deeply concerned and outraged by today’s alert from the FBI,” Gottheimer said. “This is what happens after years of antisemitic comments from public figures,” he added, citing recent comments by Kanye West and a social media post shared by NBA star Kyrie Irving.
The FBI didn’t release any information suggesting the threat that prompted the warning was related to the public debate over those comments.
We are taking a proactive measure with this warning while investigative processes are carried out.
— FBI Newark (@FBINewark) November 3, 2022
Agudath Israel is aware of this and is in touch with law enforcement and is working to spread the message to synagogues and religious institutions in NJ and urges all to take the proper security precautions. https://t.co/Rx0AFjk0ul
— Agudath Israel of America (@AgudahNews) November 3, 2022
I have been in touch with the @NewJerseyOAG, @njohsp, and @FBINewark regarding a credible threat to synagogues in NJ.
We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with local law enforcement to ensure that all houses of worship are protected.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 3, 2022
This would be a perfect time to illustrate why open carry should be legal. If cv something we’re to happen than no one can react other than calling the police.
Why are all these hateful threats and incidents happening under the Biden administration? I thought the Biden administration was going to bring civility back to this Nation?
Election surprises
im sure the lakewood vaad who supported murphy the guy who only wants criminals to have guns is on top of this.
Meir Kayan’s called it correctly back in the 60’s when he said every Jew a 22. Until we stop ring our hands and start Armed train defensive units i our communities this will not stop
Most anti Semites attack when dark and in groups. Individually they are cowards
And yes they need to be challenged.
We have a chance to change this country now mvote republican as often as possible
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Whoa, whoa, stop right there!
This is the FBI. The “law enforcement” agency they spent two years and $50 million in taxpayer money to “investigate” bogus claims of Rooshun Colooshun based on a forged dossier. All in pursuit of a political hit job. Is this another political hit job? Gin up a panic on the basis of some rando post in a chat room? Those happen every day. Mah nishtanah?
The election is in 4 days and the party controlling the executive is about to get drubbed out of Congress. The opposition is promising political reprisals over some serious abuses of power by the executive recently. I put it to you that the FIB is not beyond shenanigans and manipulating the Jewish community with bald faces falsehoods, all in an effort to make themselves seem more trustworthy that they deserve. Do not be fooled by these criminals-with-credentials!
If you don’t hqve q loaded weapon on , you are a sitting duck just waiting to be victimized. How mahy stories lately about homeowners and storekeepers with guns saving their lives and those of their family members and others, thanks to their use of their guns! Corrupt evil and crooked – minded potiliticians!!!
Abe friedman who lives in Brooklyn is Murphys jewish liaison
I’ve been advocating concealed carry for Jews for the longest time when others chastised me for saying such ridiculous things. Please, if you can’t carry then at least have mace or a sharp item close at hand.
Lots of Muslims in USA, wouldn’t be surprised if they have something planned….
As per my recent Op-Ed on Antisemitism which VINnews recently posted, these threats go beyond “hate speech” and are credible, dangerous manifestations of Jew-hating, now “normal” in America. There are ways to combat it: report EVERY INCIDENT or THREAT to Local Police, FBI and Jewish orgs that combat this scourge. Have teach-ins at local public schools & demonstrations of public support. See that perpetrators are SUED AND PROSECUTED. AND FIGHT BACK IF ATTACKED!
AM YISROEL CHAI
We should band together and threaten NJ mosques. No more cowering.
People should not be carrying guns in NY shuls, it’s against the law. In matter of fact people have no business going to shul in light of Covid, they should rather spend time in liquer stores.