Federal and local officials have made an arrest in connection with bomb threats made to Jewish community centers since January, authorities said Friday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked with the New York Police Department and New York State Police to arrest a man suspected of threatening the Anti-Defamation League’s New York headquarters and several other institutions, the FBI confirmed.
Authorities arrested Juan Thompson in St. Louis, Missouri, on one count of cyberstalking, according to an FBI press release. He allegedly stalked a woman by making bomb threats in her name to Jewish community centers and the ADL. Thompson, 31, is suspected of making eight of the JCC threats to harass the victim.
He is accused of sending an email to the ADL on Feb. 21 saying the victim “is behind the bomb threats against Jews. She lives in NYC and is making more bomb threats tomorrow.” The next day, the ADL got a phone call from a person claiming that “explosive material” had been placed at its office in Manhattan, according to the FBI.
“The defendant allegedly caused havoc, expending hundreds of hours of police and law enforcement resources to respond and investigate these threats,” Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said.
An FBI spokesperson told The Huffington Post that a suspect or suspects who have been making sweeping calls in waves to dozens of Jewish community centers across the country are still on the loose.
There have been more than 100 bomb threats made to over 80 Jewish institutions since January. HuffPost is tracking the threats here:
The arrest comes after groups including the ADL have called for the federal government to broaden their investigation of the threats. The FBI and the Department of Justice told HuffPost previously that they are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with the threats, but officials had refused to comment any further.
“It’s not enough to say this is bad,” Greenblatt told HuffPost on Monday. “We need a plan of action to push back on this kind of anti-Semitism, we need a strategy to stop these threats.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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