Crime & Safety

Cuomo: State Will Investigate Threat Against Jewish Senior Center

The threat — the latest in a wave of such incidents at Jewish centers across the country and NYC — was sent in by text message.

FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN — A bomb threat was texted Friday morning to an employee at a Jewish senior center, authorities said, the latest such incident at Jewish centers around the country and New York City.

The call came in around 8 a.m., the NYPD told Patch, and police responded to the Jewish Association Serving the Aging facility at 1090 Coney Island Ave., between Glenwood Road and Avenue H.

The building was evacuated while police investigated the text and swept the premises. The scene was declared clear by 10:15 a.m., and people were let back inside, police said.

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"Early this morning, before office hours, a bomb threat was sent by text to a staff member who works at a JASA office on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn," a statement from JASA said. "Staff were advised immediately to report to another location. The police were alerted and are investigating.

"Law enforcement has advised that this threat, in all likelihood, was a hoax."

Find out what's happening in Ditmas Park-Flatbushfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Hoax or not, such threats have rattled the Jewish community in the last few weeks, and they have hit several spots in Brooklyn. On Thursday, the Jewish Children's Museum was evacuated for hours as authorities scoured the building following an emailed threat.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will investigate the threat.

“The bomb threat against JASA in Midwood is yet another repulsive and cowardly act that goes directly against our state’s values. By threatening a place that serves our most vulnerable New Yorkers, this is a particularly appalling incident in the recent wave of hate and anti-Semitism that has afflicted our communities.

“When is enough enough? This is not who we are and not who we should be.”

“In response to this threat, I am directing the New York State Police to coordinate with federal and local law enforcement to launch a full investigation into this matter. We are committed to bringing whoever is responsible for this egregious act to justice.”

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