On Sunday, police had to evacuate the Albany Jewish Community Center after officials received a "threatening email" describing a potential bomb threat, News 10 reported.
According to an official at the Office of Emergency Management, 19 Jewish Community Centers throughout the state received the same email around 11:30 a.m. EST on Sunday.
The New York State Police, Albany Police Department and other law enforcement agencies responded to the scene. They did a thorough sweep of the building and cleared the scene by 1 p.m.
Bomb threats were made by email today against multiple Jewish Community Centers across NY.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 23, 2020
At @AlbanyJCC, police evacuated the building, then declared it safe. An investigation into the threats is ongoing.
NY has zero tolerance for anti-Semitism — we won't let hate & fear win. pic.twitter.com/6ItIzr7U5s
Anti-Semitism has been a growing problem, especially in New York. Back in December, police captured the man responsible for stabbing five people at a Hanukkah celebration at a Rabbi's home in Monsey.
According to Gov. Cuomo, there have been 42 incidents of anti-Semitism in New York over the last few months.
"This was a terrible unfortunate incident but it in no way reflects how people feel about the Jewish community in the capital district or in this state,” Cuomo said. "These types of situations are so ugly and so unfortunate. What's worse is we're seeing more and more of them."
The threats are believed to be part of a larger series of threats made against Jewish Community Centers across the nation, USA Today reported.
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