By David Shepardson and Maria Caspani
(Reuters) -No less than three synagogues and a museum in New York acquired bomb threats on Saturday however none had been deemed credible by the New York Police Division, a metropolis official and police mentioned.
Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine mentioned on X the synagogue bomb threats had been “a transparent hate crime, and a part of a rising development of ‘swatting’ incidents concentrating on Jewish establishments.”
“This can be a clear effort to sow worry within the Jewish group. Can’t be accepted,” he mentioned.
Antisemitic incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment within the U.S. greater than doubled final 12 months to a report excessive as anti-Jewish sentiment spiked after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas warfare in October, the Anti-Defamation League mentioned in a report final month.
A police spokesperson mentioned various threats had been acquired on Saturday, together with an emailed bomb risk to the Brooklyn Museum and one to a synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, with no proof of any explosive system detected.
Two synagogues in Manhattan additionally acquired bomb threats, together with a West Facet synagogue that prompted police to evacuate about 250 individuals, police mentioned, with nothing discovered.
New York state Governor Kathy Hochul mentioned on X state officers had been “actively monitoring various bomb threats at synagogues in New York. Threats have been decided to not be credible.”
Hochul added, “We won’t tolerate people sowing worry & antisemitism. These accountable have to be held accountable for his or her despicable actions.”