public_safety_oregonian_100.JPG

(The Oregonian/OregonLive)

Update 2:05 p.m. with information from Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and the center's executive director.

A Portland-based Jewish center received an email bomb threat Monday night within hours of similar threats at offices across the country, authorities said Tuesday.

Officers responded about 8:30 p.m. to the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in the 6600 block of Southwest Capitol Highway, said police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson.

"It happened very close to closing time," Executive Director Steven Albert said. About 30 people were inside the center at the time and about another 30 were playing soccer outside, he said.

Albert said the threat was the first in the 2.5 years he has worked at the center. The center has about 1,700 membership accounts, that include individuals, couples and families. He estimates the center has between 3,500 and 4,000 members.

"This is a continuation of the 6-week-long barrage of threats made at Jewish institutions around the country," Jewish Federation of Greater Portland President and CEO Marc N. Blattner said in a statement. "The MJCC leadership was fully prepared and took all necessary precautions, and law enforcement did its work. Fortunately, everything was found to be safe."

Simpson would say only that the Portland threat wasn't an "in-person threat," but Blattner said it was received by email.

"The message was sent to the general MJCC email account, and it indicated the possibility of explosives on campus," Blattner said.

Police officers contacted employees of the Mittleman center and consulted with the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit on how to proceed, Simpson said. After walking the facility with employees, police didn't find any suspicious item, he said. Albert said he and another senior administrator walked with officers through the building.

Simpson said investigators don't know if the threat to the local community center is connected with other similar incidents across the country.

When doors opened Tuesday, the employee mood seemed fine, Albert said.

"Members and guests are coming in as usual," Albert said. "People are coming in to take advantage of the services we offer."

However, he said he plans to discuss with his staff later Tuesday developing support programs to help members deal with a recent rise in anti-Semitic threats. Albert does not see the threat Monday night as a "one off incident" and said it's important to view the threat as part of the national trend.

The Anti-Defamation League tweeted that multiple threats have been reported at its offices. A spokesman could not be immediately reached.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said in a news release she plans to continue to find opportunities to bring together people of different faiths and backgrounds.

"This must stop," she said. "As an American and as a member of the Jewish community I'm deeply troubled and profoundly saddened by the dramatic increase in threats to Jewish organizations and community centers ... I'm relieved to hear no one was harmed and the facility is safe. I'm calling on my colleagues in Congress and the administration to condemn these threats of violence in the strongest possible terms."

Since Jan. 1, at least 98 locations of Jewish organizations in the United States -- including schools, Jewish Community Centers, and offices of the Anti-Defamation League -- have received a total of 129 bomb threats, according to the investigative news organization ProPublica. The majority have come in five of what the JCC Association of North America calls "waves" -- groups of robocalls coming on a single day. So far, none of the threats have been carried out.

We just received multiple #bombthreats at ADL offices. Law enforcement personnel are responding. More details to come. — ADL (@ADL_National) March 7, 2017

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also tweeted two centers and an ADL office received bomb threats in New York City. He has called for state police to work with federal and local police to investigate.

.@nyspolice are on scene at all 3 incidents, are assisting federal & local officials, JCC members, staff and @ADL_National local affiliates. pic.twitter.com/pqXLdV2Ytu — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 7, 2017

This post will be updated as news develops.

Here's the full statement from Blattner:

Dear Community,



Sadly, Portland is not immune to the ongoing anti-Semitism in our country. Last evening, the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) received an email bomb threat, along with Jewish Community Centers in four other states. This is a continuation of the 6-week long barrage of threats made at Jewish institutions around the country. The MJCC leadership was fully prepared and took all necessary precautions, and law enforcement did its work. Fortunately, everything was found to be safe.



As I have shared previously, we are in constant communication with local and national law enforcement. The Jewish Federation is a funder and member of the Secure Community Network - SCN (as are several of our local Jewish organizations) which shares information about incidents around the world on a timely basis. Tomorrow morning is a meeting of Jewish communal executives to further discuss how we respond to these incidents. We are doing what we can.



We will continue to remain vigilant and keep you updated on any other occurrences.



Sincerely,

Marc N. Blattner

President and CEO

Here's an email sent to the Mittleman center and Portland Jewish Academy communities Tuesday morning:



Dear Friends,



As you know, many JCC's around the nation have received bomb threats in recent weeks. Yesterday evening, the MJCC received an email threat that turned out to be a hoax. The message was sent to the general MJCC email account, and it indicated the possibility of explosives on campus. We contacted 911, the Criminal Intelligence Unit of the Portland Police Bureau, and the FBI. Four police officers and one FBI agent responded to our call. After ensuring that the parking lot and outdoor areas surrounding the MJCC were safe, on the recommendation of law enforcement, the MJCC closed early (including the Sportsplex) and all members, guests and staff were sent home. (No one was at PJA at that point in time.) The responding officers and agent conducted a comprehensive sweep of the entire building and determined that there was no threat. No one was ever in any danger, and we have no reason to believe there is any ongoing need for concern.



As we have said before, your safety and the safety of everyone who enters our facility is our top priority. We have been working with local and regional law enforcement, and together with the JCCA, we are working with the FBI to bring those responsible for these threats to justice. We know that you share our frustration that the situation has not been resolved, but please know that we are pushing law enforcement at all levels to put more resources behind this case. In addition, please recognize that we continue to enhance security on our campus. In the coming weeks, you will see additional security enhancements - improvements that were planned before yesterday evening's incident.



We pride ourselves on our service to the Portland Jewish community and are committed to providing programs that bring us together to enrich one another's lives. The threats that have been made against JCC's and Jewish Day Schools have done nothing to undercut our enduring commitment to our community.





***

-- Tony Hernandez

thernandez@oregonian.com

503-294-5928

@tonyhreports