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| F.B.I. Locates Suspect After Warning of Security Threat at New Jersey Synagogues | F.B.I. Locates Suspect After Warning of Security Threat at New Jersey Synagogues |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Hours after issuing a rare warning about a security risk at New Jersey synagogues, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified a man who holds “radical extremist views,” and who they say was the source of the threat, a federal official told faith leaders Friday morning. | |
| It was not clear if a suspect was in custody, but officials said the threat had been “mitigated.” | |
| “He no longer poses a threat to the community at this time,” James E. Dennehy, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s Newark office, said during a morning conference call with state and federal law enforcement officials and more than 500 Jewish leaders. | “He no longer poses a threat to the community at this time,” James E. Dennehy, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s Newark office, said during a morning conference call with state and federal law enforcement officials and more than 500 Jewish leaders. |
| Mr. Dennehy said investigators believed that the man, who is from New Jersey, was acting alone, but they are continuing to pursue leads about people he might have been in contact with. The man was not publicly identified, and officials offered no additional information about whether he had been charged with a crime. | Mr. Dennehy said investigators believed that the man, who is from New Jersey, was acting alone, but they are continuing to pursue leads about people he might have been in contact with. The man was not publicly identified, and officials offered no additional information about whether he had been charged with a crime. |
| He was located Thursday night, officials said, and questioned for a “few hours.” | He was located Thursday night, officials said, and questioned for a “few hours.” |
| “He expressed radical, extremist views and ideology, as well as an extreme amount of hate against the Jewish community,” Mr. Dennehy said. | “He expressed radical, extremist views and ideology, as well as an extreme amount of hate against the Jewish community,” Mr. Dennehy said. |
| Incidents of harassment and violence against Jews and Jewish institutions have increased nationwide and have only intensified as celebrities like the rapper Kanye West, who goes by the name Ye, and the basketball player Kyrie Irving, have come under fire for antisemitic posts on social media. | Incidents of harassment and violence against Jews and Jewish institutions have increased nationwide and have only intensified as celebrities like the rapper Kanye West, who goes by the name Ye, and the basketball player Kyrie Irving, have come under fire for antisemitic posts on social media. |
| It was against this backdrop that the F.B.I.’s Newark office made the decision on Thursday afternoon to release an unusual warning on social media stating that it had received “credible information of a broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey. | It was against this backdrop that the F.B.I.’s Newark office made the decision on Thursday afternoon to release an unusual warning on social media stating that it had received “credible information of a broad threat to synagogues” in New Jersey. |
| During the conference call, which also included Gov. Philip D. Murphy and the state’s attorney general, Matthew J. Platkin, Mr. Dennehy said the F.B.I. was aware that the broad and unspecified nature of the warning was unsettling to many. | During the conference call, which also included Gov. Philip D. Murphy and the state’s attorney general, Matthew J. Platkin, Mr. Dennehy said the F.B.I. was aware that the broad and unspecified nature of the warning was unsettling to many. |
| But he said the decision was made to immediately publicize the threat given its timing — just ahead of the Jewish Sabbath, as children were being released on Thursday from religious schools. | But he said the decision was made to immediately publicize the threat given its timing — just ahead of the Jewish Sabbath, as children were being released on Thursday from religious schools. |
| “We wanted to reach the widest audience in the quickest way possible,” he said. “It was not our intent to cause panic or alarm.” | “We wanted to reach the widest audience in the quickest way possible,” he said. “It was not our intent to cause panic or alarm.” |
| Mr. Murphy said on the call that while he was grateful the man had been located quickly, he understood that it remained a fraught time for Jewish residents as incidents of antisemitism rise nationwide. | Mr. Murphy said on the call that while he was grateful the man had been located quickly, he understood that it remained a fraught time for Jewish residents as incidents of antisemitism rise nationwide. |
| “As tonight is the Sabbath, we do not want anyone to feel afraid as they head to synagogue,” Mr. Murphy said. “We will do what we must to ensure that everyone can pray in safety, security and peace.” | “As tonight is the Sabbath, we do not want anyone to feel afraid as they head to synagogue,” Mr. Murphy said. “We will do what we must to ensure that everyone can pray in safety, security and peace.” |
| Last year, New Jersey recorded the second-highest number of antisemitic incidents in the country, behind New York, according to the Anti-Defamation League. | Last year, New Jersey recorded the second-highest number of antisemitic incidents in the country, behind New York, according to the Anti-Defamation League. |
| Of the 370 incidents reported throughout the state, 44 took place at Jewish institutions and involved harassment, vandalism and assault, according to an audit done by the league. | Of the 370 incidents reported throughout the state, 44 took place at Jewish institutions and involved harassment, vandalism and assault, according to an audit done by the league. |
| Rabbi Yisroel Bursztyn, a founder of the National Chaplains Association, a Jewish organization based in Lakewood, N.J., said he was appreciative that law enforcement agencies had not taken Thursday’s threat lightly. | Rabbi Yisroel Bursztyn, a founder of the National Chaplains Association, a Jewish organization based in Lakewood, N.J., said he was appreciative that law enforcement agencies had not taken Thursday’s threat lightly. |
| “Living in fear is never an option,” said Rabbi Bursztyn, a chaplain who works closely with law enforcement departments and in correctional facilities. | “Living in fear is never an option,” said Rabbi Bursztyn, a chaplain who works closely with law enforcement departments and in correctional facilities. |
| Scott Richman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s New York and New Jersey office, said that the organization had seen an uptick in incidents of hate in the wake of the publicity surrounding the antisemitic comments Ye posted on social media. | Scott Richman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s New York and New Jersey office, said that the organization had seen an uptick in incidents of hate in the wake of the publicity surrounding the antisemitic comments Ye posted on social media. |
| A week after a banner was hung over a Los Angeles freeway that read “Kanye is right about the Jews,” a similar poster appeared over a roadway in Yonkers, N.Y., Mr. Richman said. Laser images with a similar message were also projected at a football game and against buildings in Jacksonville, Fla., he noted. | A week after a banner was hung over a Los Angeles freeway that read “Kanye is right about the Jews,” a similar poster appeared over a roadway in Yonkers, N.Y., Mr. Richman said. Laser images with a similar message were also projected at a football game and against buildings in Jacksonville, Fla., he noted. |
| “This was all just an effort to jump on the Kanye bandwagon,” he said, adding, “All of this spawns lots more antisemitism.” | “This was all just an effort to jump on the Kanye bandwagon,” he said, adding, “All of this spawns lots more antisemitism.” |