The FBI is investigating this morning’s bomb threat to the Jewish Community Center in Brighton, along with Brighton Police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police.
The threat was received by email to a JCC employee’s work account. Similar threats were made in New York City and in Syracuse.
JCC officials said there were about 75 people in the building at the time. An email was sent to staff and members at about 6:00 a.m. telling them of the situation.
Brighton Police Chief Mark Henderson says they took their time and dogs swept the entire facility. Nothing was found and the center opened at about 10 a.m. Chief Henderson says he’s confident the building is safe. Henderson says his department has long had plans made with the JCC for this type of incident and they were followed.
The FBI issued a statement saying it and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats to JCCs across the country. The FBI says it will collect all available facts and investigate them in a fair, thorough and impartial manner.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says he stands with the JCC and the Town of Brighton to reject these threats. They were also condemned by Senator Chuck Schumer, local elected officials and Rochester’s State Senate delegation.