Bomb threats made against 5 synagogues during Rosh Hashanah 'not credible,' police say
Nassau County police respond to a threat at Temple Avodah in Oceanside on Monday. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Bomb threats made against three Nassau County synagogues Sunday and Monday have been deemed “not credible” after a sweep of the locations by Nassau County police Arson Bomb Squad detectives, but police said the source of the emailed threats remains under investigation.
And in Suffolk County, police have concluded that the source of similar email threats made to Long Island MacArthur Airport and two Jewish houses of worship in Oakdale and Commack are also unfounded and possibly connected to the others in Nassau.
Nassau and Suffolk police said the threats were made in connection with the two-day celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which began at sundown Friday. Both police departments have increased police presence at Jewish houses of worship.
Nassau police said they were notified of the two new threats Monday at about 9 a.m. One of those threats said an incendiary device had been planted at North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, the other threat targeted Temple Avodah in Oceanside.
That came one day after police said officials at Temple Beth Am in Merrick notified them of an email threat made against that synagogue and its congregation.
Nassau police said sweeps for explosive devices and weapons at the three locations “proved negative.”
Suffolk police said they were investigating three email bomb threats; Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma received an email threat on Sunday, and B’Nai Israel Temple, in Oakdale, and Temple Beth David, in Commack received theats Monday.
"All three were determined to be unfounded," Suffolk police said. "Police believe the threats have a similar origin and SCPD is working with its law enforcement partners to determine if the threats are connected to others in the region."
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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'A spark for them to escalate the fighting' A standoff between officials has stalled progress, eroded community patience and escalated the price tag for taxpayers. Newsday investigative editor Paul LaRocco and NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie report.
