JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 21
J
N

O

n Dec. 18, the Secure 
Community Network 
said that it had tracked 
a staggering 199 (and count-
ing) swatting incidents and 
false bomb threats across the 
country in 24 hours targeting 
Jewish facilities, including 93 
in California, 62 in Arizona, 
15 in Connecticut, five in 
Colorado, and four in 
Washington state, 
as well as one in 
Michigan, among 
others. “Swatting” 
is a false call to 
911 to dispatch an 
armed SWAT team. 
On Dec. 16, 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
in East Lansing was the target 
of a bomb threat. (It had been 
the target of threats earlier this 
year, too.) Police investigated 
and determined there was no 
threat to the congregation or the 
public, according to the East 
Lansing Police Department. 
The investigation to find the 
person responsible for the threat 
is ongoing.
These swatting incidents and 
false bomb threats come in the 
wake of both the Oct. 7 Hamas 
terrorist attacks against Israel as 
well as a record rise in security 
incidents and antisemitic activity 
across North America.
In recent weeks, law enforce-
ment in Ohio and California 
have announced the arrest of 
alleged perpetrators of a high 
volume of swatting activity and 
false bomb threats. 
Secure Community Network 
(SCN) National Director and 
CEO Michael Masters issued the 
following statement: “The alarm-
ing volume of swatting incidents 
and false bomb threats being 
carried out across the country 
is a major concern for the safety 
and security of the Jewish com-

munity in North America, as 
well as law enforcement. SCN, 
community partners and public 
safety agencies take these inci-
dents seriously and are working 
hard to address them. 
“It’s critical to recognize that 
these are not victimless crimes or 
innocent pranks: They can have 
real — and even dead-
ly — consequences. 
We appreciate the 
arrests made to 
date, recognizing 
that the often 
sophisticated and 
anonymous nature 
of this activity makes 
these threats difficult 
to mitigate. We will continue 
to work closely with our part-
ners to address this trend, which 
requires ongoing vigilance, 
preparation and communica-
tion.
”
SCN, which secures Jewish 
communities, has tracked more 
than 449 swatting incidents and 
bomb threats in 2024 to date, up 
541% from 2022 (83 incidents), 
as compared to a total of 23 
between 2019-2021. In response, 
SCN has worked in coordina-
tion with local, state and federal 
authorities to respond to these 
incidents and ensure coordina-
tion between law enforcement 
and the Jewish community 
across North America.
In the wake of the Oct. 7 
Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, 
SCN has logged record highs in 
security incidents and antise-
mitic activity, with a record 772 
incidents logged in October 
and 634 in November, up 290% 
from the year prior — incidents 
including vandalism, harassment 
and assault among other acute 
threats and actions. In October 
and November alone, SCN has 
referred 230 individuals to law 
enforcement. 

Record Number of 
Swatting Incidents

JN STAFF

in California, 62 in Arizona, 
15 in Connecticut, five in 
Colorado, and four in 
Washington state, 

Michigan, among 
others. “Swatting” 

911 to dispatch an 
armed SWAT team. 

Congregation Shaarey Zedek 

innocent pranks: They can have 

real — and even dead-

ly — consequences. 

We appreciate the 
arrests made to 
date, recognizing 
that the often 
sophisticated and 
anonymous nature 

of this activity makes 

these threats difficult 

to mitigate. We will continue 

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