Pittsburgh police are investigating a hoax bomb threat made to the Tree of Life synagogue, where a deadly attack took place in 2018. The threat, received via email, was quickly determined to be a hoax in line with similar threats against synagogues nationwide. The 2018 attack, carried out by Robert Bowers, left 11 dead and resulted in his conviction on 63 counts, including hate crimes. Authorities have not connected the 2018 shooting to the recent threat. The Anti-Defamation League reported a significant increase in antisemitic bomb threats in 2023 compared to 2022, with over 1,000 threats recorded, mostly targeting synagogues. The rise in threats is attributed to tensions following a terrorist attack by Hamas militants against Israel and Israel’s subsequent response. This incident highlights the ongoing threat of antisemitism in the United States and the need for continued vigilance and security measures to protect Jewish institutions.
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