HOUSTON – Jewish Community leaders held a faith solidarity conference after many Jewish community centers around the United States received bomb threats Monday.
A message from the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center said Monday’s call was the latest in a series of bomb threats that had been phoned in to other centers across the country.
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The message described Monday’s threat as “non-credible.”
Officials said the center’s emergency protocol was implemented, and the building was being searched.
KPRC Channel 2's Phil Archer reported that police could be seen sweeping the area with K-9s. He said students were placed in a seperate building while the search was conducted.
“The security of our families, our community and the staff remains of the utmost importance to us,” the message said.
A message sent to parents of students at the center said people had been evacuated as a precaution.
The JCC went back to normal operations Monday afternoon.
The JCC Association of North America said at least 10 Jewish community centers nationwide have received bomb threats Monday via phone.
According to NBC News, JCCs in the following cities were affected and evacuated: Birmingham, Alabama; Cleveland; Chicago; St. Paul, Minnesota; Tampa, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Houston; Milwaukee; Nashville, Tennessee; and Buffalo, New York. (both the suburban and urban campuses).
Over three dates in January (Jan. 9, 18 and 31), 48 JCCs received bomb threats in 26 states and one Canadian province.
The leaders are coming together on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to fight against being targets of hate, officials said.