Officials In Millburn And Nearby Respond To Antisemitic Threats This Week

MILLBURN, NJ — The town of Millburn issued a message to residents Thursday night 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 threat had ended after a suspect was captured, but nationally, watchdog groups have said that antisemitism is on the rise.

Violent Precedents

Anti-Semitic mass murders have occurred in New Jersey in the last few years. Three years ago, a mother of three, a police officer, and other victims were murdered in Jersey City in an anti-Semitic attack.

Elsewhere, in Pittsburgh in October 2018, 11 people were killed in a shooting at a synagogue.

This past week, a North Jersey synagogue commemorated Krystallnacht, a two-day period in which Nazi rhetoric gave way to 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 group's verbal attacks on Jewish people were not just idle threats, as some in the U.S. had believed in the 1930s.

The police wrote on Thursday night:

"The Millburn Police Department is aware of the alert issued by the FBI of a broad threat to synagogues in New Jersey. The Police Department is taking extra precautions at the synagogues located within the township. If you see anything suspicious around town please call the police at 973-564-7001. As always in the event of an emergency call 9-1-1."

The FBI's Newark Office posted the 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."

In Millburn, one community member posted on social media Thursday, "This is very scary and concerning to a lot of people in our community."