False Bomb Threats Against Shuls Include Crown Heights

By COLlive reporter

The “swatting” wave of fake bomb threats that is sweeping America has arrived at synagogues in Brooklyn, including many in the Crown Heights area as well as elsewhere in New York City.

A number of synagogues were evacuated briefly and searched by police out of an abundance of caution on Sunday morning.

The NYPD said the threats received by email are false, although it is continuing to investigate. Among the synagogues that received the unconfirmed threats was the well-known Shaare Zion Congregation, one of the largest in Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community. The Chevra Ahavas Yisroel Shul at 306 Albany Avenue also reportedly received a threat via email.

“At this time, based on similar language and specific email tradecraft used, it appears the perpetrators of these threats are connected. Additionally, these threats appear to be originating from outside of the United States,” the FBI said in a message to national Jewish organizations that was obtained by CNN.

“To date, none of these email threats have involved any actual explosive devices or credible risk of harm to congregants,” the bureau added.

The Crown Heights Shul Association’s Rabbi Lazer Avtzon, Crown Heights Shomrim and Rabbi Yaacov Behrman of the Jewish Future Alliance said that multiple Shuls in the area have received bomb threats.

“While we don’t deem these threats credible and suspect their purpose is to induce fear and disrupt services, we strongly recommend contacting the NYPD to log the threat and consider a security sweep of the Shul,” they said.

Hundreds of US synagogues and Jewish facilities have been targeted by false bomb threats and “swatting” incidents over the past weekend alone; the FBI has issued a holiday season security warning in response.

More than a dozen synagogues in New York were “swatted” with false bomb threats earlier this month as well. “These threats have been happening for months, but as a new wave comes on, we are in contact with law enforcement and offering assistance to communities,” the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in a post on X.

“Similar threats have been occurring recently around the country and have all been deemed false reports,” FJCC told synagogue leaders. “NYPD is investigating.”

Last week, the FBI and the Secure Community Network (SCN) tracked a staggering 199 swatting incidents and false bomb threats across the country targeting Jewish facilities within a 24 hour period.

People in the community are being told, “As always, if you see something, say something by calling 800-577-TIPS (8477).”