Bomb Threat At Jewish Children's Museum In Crown Heights Cleared; Cuomo, De Blasio Visit Scene

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The Jewish Children's Museum received a bomb threat by email Thursday morning, the NYPD told Patch, the latest in a string of threats made to Jewish centers around the country.

The building was evacuated as police rushed to the scene and was declared clear by about 1 p.m. (For the latest updates on this story and other Crown Heights news, click here to sign up for Patch's free, real-time news alerts and daily newsletter.)

Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio stopped by the scene Thursday afternoon. Cuomo held a press conference in Crown Heights earlier Thursday, and de Blasio had a town hall in nearby Bed-Stuy about his plan for area homeless shelters.

"We will find you," Cuomo said of people who have been making threats to Jewish centers.

Several other area politicians decried the threat, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who tweeted, "Another threat against NYC & its Jewish community. We must fight this scourge tooth & nail. I stand w/ @JCMBrooklyn."

New York City Emergency Management told people in the area to avoid Kingston Avenue and Eastern Parkway, where the museum is located, while emergency personnel were on scene.

Photos from the scene showed a heavy police presence outside the museum:

The museum, according to its website, "is a unique institution where children and their parents – from all segments of the community – can explore jewish history and heritage in a stimulating and interactive environment.

It opens at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.

Image via Google Streetview