Essex County Jewish Center Steps Up Security After Multi-State Bomb Threats: Report

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Although it wasn’t among the targets of a series of multi-state bomb threats on Monday, an Essex County Jewish community center has stepped up security on its property in the wake of the incidents, reports say.

While the staff at the JCC MetroWest in West Orange told its members that there was no immediate threat to its location, they said that “enhanced security” measures include moving its guard post to a more visible location, rotating guards on patrol and installing brighter lighting in the garage, NBC New York reported.

According to its website, the Leon & Toby Cooperman JCC in West Orange and its day-camp, Camp Deeny Riback, serves an area that covers 400 square miles and includes New York City, Essex County and the outlying suburbs of Morris County. Through its classes, theater events, fitness center, summer camps and community-wide festivals, the center affects about 50,000 people each year.

The bomb threats – which caused several evacuations on Monday – targeted Jewish community centers in six states, including New Jersey, the Guardian reported.

Authorities said that it is not clear if the threats are linked. Bomb threats were reported at 15 centers in New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, Delaware, South Carolina and Maryland.

In New Jersey, a threat was reported at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly. Police eventually declared the threat “not credible,” NorthJersey.com reported.

Police also didn’t find any evidence of explosives or other hazards at any of the other locations, the report stated.

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