Please Be Aware

Jonathan Kramer, the 21-year-old suspect arrested September 12 in Cranberry by the FBI on weapons and terrorism charges, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Federal court and remains in custody, likely pending indictment and further charges. Kramer, an alleged ISIS supporter, had been plotting a mass casualty attack. His targeted location(s) remain(s) unknown at this time.

On September 20, 29-year-old Sean Ward, approached the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario (about 110 miles east of Toronto), during Yom Kippur services and fired at an officer stationed outside the synagogue, triggering a shootout that riddled nearby vehicles and homes with bullet holes. No congregants were injured. Ward is deceased, and the officer is in critical, but stable condition. Belleville Police Chief stated that the incident was a deliberate, hate-motivated attack directed at members of the Jewish community, based on the evidence they had collected so far. The Chief also noted that Ward had multiple weapons, a “significant” amount of ammunition, and combustible material in his vehicle. You can read the latest at Synagogue shooting was ‘premeditated,’ ‘targeted’ hate crime: Belleville police (ottawa.citynews.ca).

On September 20, two men in their 30s were arrested in Manchester, UK, related to a suspected terrorist plot. The arrests and heightened security came during Yom Kippur and the first anniversary of the October 2025 Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue attack in north Manchester.

Federation is partnering with the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh in an event called Learning How to Keep Our Kids Safe Online. Come and hear from experts of the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the PA State Police. There will be 2 sessions, October 8 and October 15 from 6-8 PM. For more information and to register for this free event visit jewishpgh.org/event/safety.

So far in 2026 we have logged 220 incidents in our Virtual Command Center which is in comparison to 240 at this time last year. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents via the Incident Report Form.

Security Matters in the News This Week

• Inside the terrifying mements of the Belleville synagogue shooting: ‘Get on the floor (thestar.com)
• UK police thwart suspected terror plot targeting Manchester Jewish community ahead of Hight Holy Day (jpost.com)
• Florida man charged with threatening to ‘hunt Jews’, federal prosecutors say (wtsp.com)
• Massachusetts man sentenced for threats against Florida lawmaker Randy Fine

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