A man from Minnesota was taken into custody after making threats to a synagogue in Minneapolis, according to officials. The staff at Temple Israel reported receiving multiple phone calls from a person who threatened to “shoot up” the synagogue on September 11. As a precaution, a special police detail was assigned to provide extra patrols around the synagogue ahead of the Jewish new year and the one-year anniversary of a previous attack on Israel. On Thursday, officers were notified of a man outside the synagogue with a firearm. Although he fled the area, he was later arrested by police. At a news conference, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated that everyone in the city has the right to feel safe in their communities, and that they will ensure the safety of their Jewish neighbors during the holy days. The 21-year-old man was found to have used a phone app to disguise his voice while making the threats, and no gun was recovered. He was arrested for making “terroristic threats” and will face charges from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. While there is no evidence that the threats were motivated by antisemitism, O’Hara expressed concern about the timing of the threats, especially in light of a previous terrorist attack on the Jewish community. He emphasized that the police will continue to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of the city’s houses of worship.
