Bomb Threats Reported At Baltimore JCC And Around US

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Several Jewish Community Centers across the country are evacuated, as bomb threats are called. At least two of those centers are right here in Maryland. That call came into the Jewish Community Center on Park Heights Ave. just before noon. The center had to scramble to evacuate everyone.

At 11:45 a.m. this morning, a bomb threat was called into the front desk at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore.

"There was a phoned-in bomb threat it sounded like a recording. We are aware now that there have been other incidents around the country at other Jewish organizations," says Paul Lurie, JCC Chief Operating Officer.

The center, which has programs for infants all the way to Senior Citizens had to evacuate everyone. Police searched the building, but they found nothing. Similar bomb threats have been reported across the country including in Delaware, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey and South Carolina.

A center in Tenafly, New Jersey canceled all activities for the rest of the day. But in Baltimore, operations are back to normal after tense moments shut down the center.

"The police we have been working with, the Criminal Investigation Unit has taken it up as an active case to look into the threat itself, and try to determine more information," says Lurie.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville also received a bomb threat, but no injuries were reported in either case. Baltimore City police say they are working with their federal partners for this investigation.

The Chief Operating Officer for the Park Heights JCC says his facility has armed security, but there will be a review of their safety procedures.

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