Hoboken 'Monitors' Situation After Synagogue Threat; Suspect Captured

HOBOKEN, NJ — The mayor of Hoboken issued a message to residents this week in response to a warning from the FBI saying there was "credible" information about a "broad threat" to synagogues in New Jersey, a warning that came amid the recent amplification of antisemitic language and incidents.

Officials said Friday that the FBI had captured a suspect, described as a lone "extremist." But this latest incident has been part of a rise in antisemitism in recent years, say watchdog groups.

Violent Precedents

In fact, three years ago, a mother of three, a police officer, and other victims were murdered in Jersey City in an antisemitic attack.

This past week, a North Jersey synagogue commemorated Krystallnacht, a two-day period in which the Nazis unleashed a wave of violence. From Nov. 9-10, 1938, Jewish people were beaten and synagogues attacked in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland, making it clear that the Nazis' verbal attacks on Jewish people were not just idle threats, as some in the U.S. had believed in the 1930s.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Thursday, "My administration has been in touch with local law enforcement and @HobokenPD has increased police presence [at Jewish houses of worship] ... We will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary steps to keep our houses of worship safe."

The FBI's Newark Office had posted a warning shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday.

It said: "The FBI has received credible information of a broad threat to synagogues in NJ. We ask at this time that you take all security precautions to protect your community and facility. We will share more information as soon as we can. Stay alert. In case of emergency call police."

They added, "We are taking a proactive measure with this warning while investigative processes are carried out."