FBI Director Warns of Threats to Jewish Community Prior to Passover

WASHINGTON – Law enforcement at the federal level is maintaining vigilance for potential threats against the Jewish community in the United States as the Passover holiday approaches, as stated by FBI Director Christopher Wray during a meeting with security officials nationwide on Wednesday.

Wray expressed ongoing concern within the bureau about the possibility of lone actors targeting significant gatherings, prominent events, or sites of religious or symbolic importance for acts of violence. This concern is heightened as the Passover holiday commences on Monday evening.

During his address at an event organized by the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit dedicated to the safety and training of the Jewish community, Wray highlighted that threats against the US Jewish community had escalated even before the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. Following the incident, the FBI observed a significant increase in hate crime cases, with the number of investigations related to anti-Jewish hate crimes more than tripling between October 7 and January 30 compared to the preceding four months.

Wray emphasized the tangible threat represented by these investigations, stressing the risk posed to institutions, places of worship, educational institutions, and individuals within the Jewish community solely because of their identity.

A recent audit by the Anti-Defamation League revealed a sharp rise in incidents following the commencement of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Between October 7 and December 31, there were reportedly 5,204 incidents, marking a notable increase. In 2023, the Anti-Defamation League documented 8,873 antisemitic incidents in the United States, the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking such data in 1979.

In addition to domestic threats and a surge in false threats against Jewish facilities, Wray cautioned against the presence of various threats originating from abroad. Since October 7, there has been a concerning trend of foreign terrorist organizations advocating for attacks against the United States and its allies, including calls to target Jewish communities both in the US and Europe.

In his address to Jewish community security officials, Wray also underscored the threat posed by state-sponsored actors.