FBI investigating bomb threats to Jewish centers throughout US

For the second time this month, US federal authorities are investigating threats to Jewish centers nationwide.

On Wednesday, 27 Jewish community centers (JCC) in 17 US states received phone threats, prompting evacuations of some of the facilities.

Earlier this month, at least 16 Jewish centers received similar threats. No actual danger materialized in any of the incidents.

The FBI stated Wednesday that it was investigating “possible civil rights violations in connection with threats.” The probe is being conducted in conjunction with the Justice Department’s civil-rights division. The statement from the agency’s Washington headquarters did not characterize the threats.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement the same day citing “a series of bomb threats to Jewish community centers in at least 17 states” as well as a Security Advisory to Jewish institutions nationwide.

“Although the threats do not appear to be credible, the League is urging all communal institutions to take these threats extremely seriously. Some community Centers have been evacuated out of an abundance of caution,” the ADL cautioned.

“Thus far we are not aware of any of these threats being substantiated,” ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt said, although, the organization recommends that Jewish centers still take them seriously.

The ADL has received reports of threats in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Kansas.

By: AP and World Israel News Staff