No Explosives Found After Bomb Threat Called into Jewish Community Center

LONG BEACH, CA - A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of a Jewish community center in Long Beach Tuesday, but a search of the facility turned up no explosives, police said.

Officers were sent to the Alpert Jewish Community Center in the 3800 block of East Willow Street about 9:15 a.m., said Marlene Arrona of the Long Beach Police Department. Police searched the facility and declared the area safe shortly before noon.

The incident came amid a rash of similar crimes across the country.

Shortly before 9 a.m. in San Diego, a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in the University City area, according to San Diego police. Authorities searched the facility and gave an all-clear about 10:30 a.m..

Several other Jewish centers in Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Wisconsin were also evacuated due to similar threats, according to news reports.

It was the third spate of such threats this month.

On Jan. 18, bomb threats were made to 27 Jewish community centers in 17 states, according to the JCC Association of North America. The FBI launched an investigation after the first round of bogus threats affected 16 centers in nine states on Jan. 9.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock