A softball dugout in Wellsville, N.Y., was defaced last year, one of the incidents that have raised fears of anti-Semitism. On Friday, it was announced a suspect has been arrested in connection with bomb threats against Jewish advocacy organizations and other Jewish groups in the U.S. (Anti-Defamation League )
Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with bomb threats against Jewish advocacy organizations and other Jewish groups in the United States, a New York City Police Department spokesperson said Friday.
Sophia Mason said she was unable to give further information, so It was not immediately clear where or when the arrest was made. She referred questions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the lead agency in the case.
FBI officials could not be reached immediately for comment.
The Anti-Defamation League said earlier Friday it had been informed by federal and New York law enforcement officials that an arrest had been made.
Jewish community centres and schools in the United States have received five waves of hoax bomb threats this year, stoking fears of a resurgence in anti-Semitism.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli officials and Jewish groups have all condemned the surge in intimidation as well as cases of vandalism targeting Jewish cemeteries.
Cemeteries vandalized
Jewish cemetery vandalized in Missouri0:26
Police said last weekend that about 100 headstones were toppled at a Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia, about a week after a Jewish cemetery in St. Louis was vandalized.
Some Jewish groups see the vandalism and threats as a sign that anti-Semitic groups have been emboldened by Trump’s election.
His campaign last year drew the support of white supremacists and other right-wing groups, despite Trump’s disavowals of them.
