Please Be Aware
On Wednesday afternoon, Hardy Lloyd was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison with 3 years of supervised release based on his guilty plea on Sept 19, 2023, for obstruction of justice related to his tampering with witnesses and jurors during the synagogue shooter trial.
FBI and DHS released a public service announcement (PSA) regarding potential threats during the upcoming holiday season. Read the announcement on ic3.gov.
More than 30 of the 56 FBI field offices (to include FBI Pittsburgh) are investigating the hoax bomb threats and are pursuing those responsible for violations of multiple federal laws. Based on similar language and specific email tradecraft used, it appears the perpetrators of these threats are connected. Additionally, these threats appear to be originating from outside of the US. To date, none of these email threats have involved any actual explosive devices or credible risk of harm to congregants.
SCN has tracked more than 449 swatting incidents and bomb threats in 2023 to date, up 541% from 2022 (83 incidents), and compared to a total of 23 between 2019-2021.
Incidents of antisemitic graffiti are continuing to increase. We are working with law enforcement on this matter. Please report this graffiti to 911 and provide as many details as you can, then notify us via the Incident Report.
In Pittsburgh, year to date, the Jewish Federation has logged 295 incidents in our Virtual Command Center, this compares to 122 incidents for the entire year of 2022. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- White supremacist Hardy Lloyd to spend 6 ½ years in prison | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle (jewishchronicle.com)
- Boy guilty of attack plot on Temple Israel Canton Jewish synagogue (cantonrep.com)
- US Jews suffer nearly 200 swatting, false bomb threats on Saturday – The Jerusalem Post (wgrz.com)
- Hutchinson Central Technical High School Incident (wgrz.com)
BluePoint Status
As we are back-to-school, please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org.
Our BluePoint training video and refresher video are available on YouTube. These are useful for new staff or as a reminder for existing staff.
Security Resources and/or Training
Online Safety & Digital Responsibility
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 United States + Google Map
Open to the Public The Jewish Federation is hosting an evening of discussion about cybersecurity awareness for younger students and their families with Felicia Trovato, Community Outreach Specialist, FBI Pittsburgh. Join a discussion with FBI Pittsburgh about online safety for students in grades 5 through 9. Registration is required. Topics Covered Online Safety & Situation Awareness Cyberbullying Awareness Trusted Adults & Seeking Help Digital Footprint & Permanence Text Message Et...
Emergency Preparedness Webinar
"If it is predictable, it is preventable." ~Gordan Graham Hazards, both manmade and natural, are a concern for all organizations. Establishing an All-Hazards Plan will not only assist in preventing many known threats, it will also provide a roadmap to mitigate these hazards. Continuity of Business Plans are the next step and crucial to direct how to move forward and restore your organization. This Webinar prepares organizations to handle emergencies by building All-Hazards and Continuity of...
De-Escalation Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and Usher/Greeter Training
If you or your organization have not yet had these training modules, please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
