To the HEA Congregation,
The email below was sent out yesterday afternoon to the JEWISHColorado listserv in response to a “swatting” email incident that happened yesterday morning. A swatting threat is a criminal act that has intended actions to disrupt and cause fear and to deceive emergency services into sending police or first responders to the location of the threat. Please see Renée Rockford’s email below.
Several synagogues in Colorado, including Temple Sinai received bomb threats via email yesterday morning. The HEA DID NOT receive this email.
We were notified by JEWISHColorado and Secure Community Network, who were in close contact with their security partners, about this incident and that the threat was not being ignored but was not deemed credible. The HEA Staff and Greeter/Security Team implemented our security protocols which included notifying our on-site DPD officer, staying in close contact with our security partners, and being prepared just in case further action needed to be taken. We want to thank all those who responded promptly and professionally on our behalf.
We want to emphasize that the threat was not deemed credible, and no further action was advised. Security risks are evaluated on an ongoing basis, and we will act in an abundance of caution when the situation is warranted.
If you have any questions, please contact Caryn directly at 303-521-6559 or email her at caryn@HEAdenver.org.
L’Shalom,
Caryn Osterman, Rabbi Gruenwald, and Rabbi Shulman
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To Our Jewish Colorado Community:
We apologize for the Shabbat email, but as some of you might already know, several synagogues in our region – from Boulder to Colorado Springs – received bomb threats via email this morning. These threats have used the same language that has been used in “swatting” incidents across the United States.
Our Secure Community Network (SCN) Advisors, Phil Niedringhaus and Kevin Farrington, have been in continuous contact with law enforcement, including the FBI and local police. According to our SCN Advisors, none of the threats are being ignored, but likewise, none has been deemed credible. Law enforcement has not ordered any evacuations.
We take these situations very seriously, and out of an abundance of precaution are taking every step available to protect our synagogues, Jewish institutions, and communities. We have been in touch with our community security partners and the ADL in Colorado.
We will continue to keep the community updated and informed should any new information and/or updates arise. If you have immediate questions, please feel free to contact our SCN Security Advisors, Phil Niedringhaus at 303-941-5420, or Kevin Farrington at 321-274-2916.
Shabbat Shalom,
Renée Rockford, President & CEO
Ben Lusher, Board Chair
