New York synagogues hit with bomb threats

At least three synagogues and a museum in New York received bomb threats on Saturday but none were deemed credible by the New York Police Department, a city official and police say.

Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine says on X the synagogue bomb threats were “a clear hate crime, and part of a growing trend of ‘swatting’ incidents targeting Jewish institutions.”

“This is a clear effort to sow fear in the Jewish community. Cannot be accepted,” he says.

A police spokesperson says a number of threats were received on Saturday, including an emailed bomb threat to the Brooklyn Museum and one to a synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, with no evidence of any explosive device detected.

Two synagogues in Manhattan also received bomb threats, including a West Side synagogue that prompted police to evacuate about 250 people, police say, with nothing found.

New York state Governor Kathy Hochul says on X state officials were “actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York. Threats have been determined not to be credible.”

Hochul adds, “We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.”