Please Be Aware
Per Secure Community Network (SCN), there have been over 1,000 hoax bomb threats received by Jewish facilities since December, 1 2023. Please notify us immediately if you receive a bomb threat so we can ascertain its credibility and assist with a course of action.
A recently released video by Al-Qaeda titled “What America & The West Do Not Expect.” depicts imagery of attacks in the US, Israel, and other Western nations. The majority of the video seeks to motivate individuals to commit acts of terror and provides guidance on how to do so. Facilities should familiarize themselves with the signs of terrorism-related activity and report any suspicious activities immediately. Please see this helpful guide suspicious activity.
In 2023, the Jewish Federation logged 300 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 122 incidents for 2022. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity.
Federation trained 11,575 people in 2023, the highest number to date: “You will not rise to the occasion, you will fall back on your training”.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Davidson synagogue, nearby school placed on lockdown due to bomb threat (whqr.org)
- New Jersey man inspired by Hamas attacks tried to join Somali terror group, prosecutors say – Jewish Telegraphic Agency (jta.org)
- NYPD Reports 31 Antisemitic Hate Crimes During December (i24news.tv)
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
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.
