US & Canada

Man held over US Jewish centre threats

A Las Vegas area JCC is searched for bombs after a suspicious phone call Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption A Las Vegas area Jewish centre is searched for bombs after a suspicious phone call

A man has been arrested for allegedly making threats against Jewish institutions, the FBI said on Friday.

Juan Thompson, 31, "allegedly caused havoc, expending hundreds of hours of police and law enforcement resources", said NYPD Commissioner James P O'Neill.

He allegedly made eight threats against Jewish Community Centers (JCC), while claiming to be a former girlfriend, according to officials.

He was arrested in St Louis, Missouri, and will be in court later on Friday.

As well as his alleged threats against the JCCs in January and February this year, he is also accused of sending an emailed threat to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) offices in New York City.

The email said his former girlfriend, referred to by the FBI as Victim-1, was behind the bomb threats. It added: "She lives in nyc and is making more bomb threats tomorrow."

Image copyright AP
Image caption Hoax bomb threats have triggered evacuations, causing mass disruption at JCCs
Image copyright AP
Image caption Authorities respond to a threat in Davie, Florida

The next day the office received a phone call claiming that explosive material had been placed inside the building.

In addition to making threats, he is accused of cyber-stalking Victim-1, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in jail.

The threats were made "as part of a sustained campaign to harass and intimidate" the woman, according to the FBI's press statement.

At least 100 phone threats have been made to Jewish institutions since the beginning of January, according to the JCC Association of North America.

Three Jewish cemeteries, including one near St Louis, have also faced vandalism attacks.