CROWN HEIGHTS — A message warning of an alleged terrorist attack in the neighborhood sent through the messaging service WhatsApp Wednesday has been ruled a hoax by local police, who are telling residents to disregard the notice.
The text, which spread through the Jewish community in Crown Heights late Wednesday afternoon, police said, warned that Shomrim — the Jewish police force in the area — knew of a “major threat” to the neighborhood, saying children should leave school early and advising residents to stay indoors.
Police received dozens of phone calls about the message throughout the day and heard several reports of parents bringing their kids home after reading the WhatsApp text.
Shomrim and the 71st Precinct were quick to quash the rumors of a threat, telling community members through social media and an email alert on Wednesday evening that the message was a hoax and “a total false rumor.”
“Neither the NYPD or Shomrim have any knowledge or information of a credible threat,” read the email from the 71st Precinct, sent at 7 p.m.
The department also sent out a tweet about the hoax.
There is a false text going around about a serious threat in Crown Heights there is NO SERIOUS THREAT in Crown Heights it is a hoax
— NYPD 71st Precinct (@NYPD71Pct) October 14, 2015Out of an abundance of caution and to further calm neighborhood residents, extra police officers were assigned to patrol Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights on Wednesday evening.
