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Students, Staff, Return To Class Safely Following JCC Bomb Threats

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. - Students and staff have returned to class at the JCC of Mid-Westchester after bomb threats forced an evacuation on Monday morning.

Jewish Community Center on the Hudson.

Jewish Community Center on the Hudson.

Photo Credit: JCC on the Hudson
JCC of Mid-Westchester

JCC of Mid-Westchester

Photo Credit: JCC of Mid-Westchester

Shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, the Jewish Community Center on the Hudson was evacuated in Tarrytown, when a bomb threat was made, Police Lt. John Barbalet said. Hours later, at approximately 11 a.m., the JCC of Mid-Westchester on the New Rochelle-Scarsdale town line was evacuated for a similar threat, police confirmed.

Tarrytown got the "all-clear" at around 11 p.m. The JCC of Mid-Westchester re-opened its doors at approximately 1 p.m. 

No injuries have been reported in either incident. Investigations are ongoing.

These bomb threats are the latest in a string across the country that has dated back to last month, according to the JCC Association of North America.

Over the course of four dates in January and February, 53 JCCs in 26 states and one Canadian province received a total of 68 phoned-in calls. All proved to be hoaxes, and all JCCs quickly returned to regular operations, the release said.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida and U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley of New York released a letter signed by more than 150 members of Congress and endorsed by several dozen Jewish organizations, including JCC Association of North America, calling on federal agencies to take swift action to address the bomb threats that have been phoned into Jewish community centers in recent weeks.

“The threats made against the Jewish Community Centers in New Rochelle and Tarrytown are unacceptable and offensive to our values as New Yorkers and Americans,” said Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement on Monday.

“My office has contacted the local police in each community to ensure the investigations proceed and that those who have committed these appalling and cruel crimes are held responsible. Bigotry and hatred have no place in New York or America, and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and everyone affected by these horrific acts.”

Congresswoman Nita Lowey released a statement regarding Monday's event saying that her office had been contact with police and the FBI to offer support.

"We will not allow hatred, bigotry, or anti-Semitic violence to terrorize our families or our community," Lowey said.

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