UPDATE: Jewish Center In Rockville Reopens After Bomb Threat

(Updated at 5:35 p.m.) ROCKVILLE, MD — After a search by Montgomery County Police and firefighters, the Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, located at 6125 Montrose Road in Rockville, reopened about 1:30 p.m. Monday following a bomb threat. About 12:45 p.m. the center said via Twitter that the center was safely evacuated because of a phone threat.

About 350 people were evacuated from the building, including 200 preschoolers. The building was closed for about two hours while it was inspected and found to be all clear, officials said on Twitter.

The Rockville facility received a bomb threat, said Executive Director Michael Feinstein, according to a report by Washington Jewish Week newspaper.

Feinstein told Montgomery Community Media the caller was a woman who claimed there was a bomb in the building. Sixteen other Jewish community centers in nine states across the country also received bomb threats today, he said.

Feinstein told WTOP that the threats made to the Rockville facility and other Jewish community centers across the country on Monday were part of a "disappointing trend."

Rockville's JCC was one of several nationwide that received phone threats Monday. Other facilities targeted include the Gordon Jewish Community Center in Nashville, and two JCCs in the Miami area were also evacuated after receiving bomb threat calls. According to CBSMiami, 300 children were evacuated from the Dave & Mary Alper JCC after a call came in around 11 a.m., just minutes after a bomb threat was called into the JCC in Miami Beach.

The Bender JCC describes itself on its website: "We encourage everyone to seek meaning and fulfillment by participating in our rich programming inspired by our Jewish heritage. We open our doors to everyone, including people of all backgrounds, religions, abilities and sexual orientations, and interfaith couples and families. Inclusion permeates our Center. Inclusion is belonging."

Montgomery County Police said Monday afternoon that officers have cleared the scene, but the department's investigation is ongoing.

There were no known links between the threats as of early Monday afternoon.

The JCC Association of North America issued a statement late Monday praising the staffs of Jewish community centers around the country and local law enforcement after JCCs in several states received bomb threats.

David Posner, director of strategic performance at JCC Association of North America, said most centers have resumed regular operations, and all should be reopened by the end of the day.

“We are proud of our JCCs and grateful for their professional staff, who in the face of threatened violence today, responded quickly, calmly and professionally by implementing well-practiced evacuation procedures and ensuring that no one was harmed," Posner said. “Our first priority is safety. JCC Association’s role is to support all Jewish community centers and their members across the continent, as together, we ensure that JCCs remain inclusive, engaging community gathering places and safe spaces.”

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