San Antonio Jewish Federation says no imminent threat after cautioning community of a potential threat against a synagogue
By Hannah Sarisohn, Rosa Flores and Alaa Elassar, CNN
The Jewish Federation of San Antonio says there is no longer a “known imminent threat” to the San Antonio, Texas, Jewish community after urging synagogues and Jewish organizations to cancel events.
The Jewish Federation had said earlier Saturday they received a warning from the FBI about a “potential threat to an unconfirmed Jewish facility in the San Antonio area.”
The Federation said it received an official update from the FBI.
“Although we recommend staying vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times, we are pleased to share that the urgency of concern has been lowered,” according to the statement.
CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment.
In an earlier statement, the FBI said it was investigating the credibility of a potential threat against an “unidentified” Texas synagogue.
“We are working to determine the credibility of the threat and sharing information with our law enforcement partners and our partners in the Jewish community,” the FBI said.
“After communicating with all local synagogues and organizations, it was recommended that all formal Jewish gatherings be suspended until further notice,” a statement from the Jewish Federation said.
Temple Beth-El posted a statement on its Facebook page announcing Shabbat services were canceled Saturday both in-person and online.
In a statement, the Anti-Defamation League said it is working closely with the San Antonio Jewish Federation. “ADL has been in close contact with federal, state, and local law enforcement in Texas for more than 72 hours around a series of threats targeting a Texas synagogue,” according to the statement. “In the past 24 hours, we received notice of a more specific and credible threat. We will continue to closely monitor and share relevant updates with all our Jewish communal partners.”
The San Antonio Police Department told CNN they are in communication with the San Antonio Division of the FBI and deferred all inquiries to them.
Speaking to CNN’s Evan Perez on Friday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said they are seeing an increase in threats against the Jewish community.
“We are working more and more closely than ever all across the country because we recognize that they are increasingly the targets of violent extremism from all manner of views and ideologies, and it’s gotta stop,” he said. “We’re not going to tolerate it and we’re going to stand with the Jewish community.”
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