Police: Several synagogues received bomb threat emails

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Police are searching for suspects who emailed non-credible bomb threats to several local Jewish synagogues on Saturday, including in Attleboro and Cranston.

According to Attleboro Deputy Chief Timothy Cook Jr, police received a call around 9 a.m. from a representative of the Agudas Achim Synagogue on North Main Street who said they received an email that “contained language indicative of a bomb threat.”

Police responded to the synagogue and conducted a search using bomb detection canines. They determined the building to be safe and the threat was ultimately found to be not credible.

Cook added that the language used in the email was “consistent” with other threats emailed to other Jewish centers across New England on both Friday and Saturday.

Molly Jacobs, President of the Board of Trustees of Congregation Agudas Achim, said they were alerted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Saturday to check their email Saturday morning, as several synagogues in the area had received bomb threats through email.

Jacobs said they did, in fact, receive one of those threats after checking their email, which is when they called the police. Officers advised everyone inside to evacuate to the parking lot of the church across the street. They were told the building was safe just before 11:30 a.m.

Attleboro Mayor Cathleen Desimone said police remained on the scene for several hours after the initial call as a precaution.

Jacobs said they’re “grateful” for the heads-up from the Jewish Alliance and thanked the Evangelical Covenant Church for their support.

The police department said they’ll be working with regional and federal law enforcement agencies to find those responsible.

A Cranston synagogue also received a similar non-credible threat on Saturday, according to Major Todd Patalano with the Cranston Police Department. However, they have chosen to not specify which location.

“We have a high state of alert and we are monitoring all Jewish places of worship/synagogues,” Patalano said. “Officers will be seen at these locations.”