Courtesy of JNS. Photo credit: Justin Merriman/Getty Images
The Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh on the fifth anniversary of the attack on Oct. 27, 2023
(JNS) — The Pittsburgh synagogue that saw 11 Jewish worshippers shot and killed on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history, became the target of a bomb threat earlier this week that police have determined was a hoax.
The incident directed at the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue on Tuesday is being investigated by local law enforcement and the FBI. The FBI added that it was not aware of any credible threats against the synagogue.
Pittsburgh police spokesperson Cara Cruz called the email “a hoax in line with other similar threats against synagogues around the country” and that officers “very quickly determined” it as such. Law enforcement did not describe any connection between this recent threat and the murders.
In May, Melanie Harris received a 32-month sentence for a campaign of harassment against members of the synagogue.
Robert Bowers, the lone gunman convicted last year for the mass shooting, sits on death row.
