Jewish center closes in Indy amid bomb threats nationwide

The JCC Indianapolis closed on Monday morning after receiving a bomb threat—an increasingly common occurrence for Jewish community centers in recent weeks.

"The JCC has received a bomb threat. All members are safe and secure. We will have an update once law enforcement completes their investigation," read a message late Monday morning on the JCC Indianapolis website. The facility is located at 6701 Hoover Road.

The center reopened before noon, after receiving the go-ahead from law enforcement. No one was injured.

JCC Indianapolis has security protocols in place to ensure the safety of program participants and facility visitors, according to a statement from the center.

“The safety and security of our members and visitors is our top priority. We have practiced how to react quickly and appropriately to any emergency,” said CEO Ira Jaffee in a prepared release.

Similar reports have rolled in from Jewish centers across the country in recent weeks. On Jan. 9, 16 JCCs in nine states received threats, Marla Cohen, communications manager for the JCC Association of North America told NBC affiliate WNBC. Nine days later, 28 centers in 17 states received threats. Dozens more have been threatened since then.

It’s not clear why the community centers have been targeted. The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating the threats as possible civil rights violations.

All of the threats have proved to be hoaxes and all of the centers have reopened, according to JCC Indianapolis.
 
"While we are relieved that all such threats have proven to be hoaxes and that not a single person was harmed, we are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats, and the repetition of threats intended to interfere with day-to-day life," Jaffee said.