At approximately 10:54 a.m. on Monday, the JCC of Mid-Westchester received a threat over the phone, telling them there was a bomb in the building Police Capt. Robert Gazzola said. Officials at the JCC proceeded to evacuate the building and alerted police of the incident.
According to Gazzola, responding officers confirmed that the building was evacuated and proceeded in moving the JCC’s students and staff to a safe location near the campus. Police set up a perimeter on the premises and a K-9 Unit conducted a search of the building.
The search determined that there were no explosive devices or suspicious packages. There were no injuries reported, and all parties have returned to the building safely.
Monday’s bomb threat continues a rash of recent anti-Semitic behavior that has seen Jewish community centers targeted throughout the country. On Monday, four centers in New York were among a dozen targeted in the most recent rash.
“The situation is horrifying, but it’s not surprising, given the rise in anti-Semitic incidents all around the country, “Mayor Noam Bramson said. “We must stand together in rejecting hateful activity and speech of any kind and in affirming the right of all people in our community to live free from fear or threat.”
The incident remains under investigation by both federal and local law enforcement. Anyone with information can contact the New Rochelle Police Department’s General Investigation’s Unit at (914) 654-2270.
Click here to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.