STATEN ISLAND — A man called in a bomb threat to the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island on Monday morning, the second time this year the building has been threatened, police said.
An unknown man briefly called the JCC, at 1466 Manor Road, at around 10 a.m. Monday and told a worker there was a bomb at the site, a spokesman for the NYPD said.
The call was reported to the NYPD, which conducted sweeps at the three JCC locations in the borough, police said. No devices have been found.
"It's a national problem," said Assistant Chief Edward Delatorre, NYPD borough commander for Staten Island. "It’s in several states and there have been numerous incidents. We are taking it very seriously."
Anti-Semitic threats like the one against Jewish community centers on Staten Island will not divide us. New York City stands united.
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 27, 2017
A spokeswoman for the Staten Island JCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Anti-Semitism and hatred of any kind will not be tolerated in our communities. Members of the JCC and the Jewish community should know that people of all faiths stand with them in denouncing intimidation and threats," Rep. Dan Donovan said in a statement. "Just last week, I called for an investigation into the rise of anti-Semitic acts across the nation, which has now unfortunately affected Staten Island. The NYPD is currently investigating this incident and my office will be following updates closely."
The threat was among at least 16 JCCs nationwide to receive calls, prompting evacuations, NBC New York reported.
The Staten Island site also received a threat in January after workers found a swastika and a bomb threat painted on a wall on the first floor of the building, according to the NYPD and JCC.
No bomb was found in that incident, police said.
