A Minnesota man was arrested after allegedly making threats to attack a Minneapolis synagogue, authorities announced on Saturday. On September 11, staff at Temple Israel reported to the Minneapolis Police Department that they had received multiple threatening phone calls from an individual claiming they would “shoot up” the synagogue.
On Thursday, police officers providing extra patrols at Temple Israel, in preparation for the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, were alerted to a man outside the synagogue with a firearm. The man fled the scene, but police arrested a 21-year-old suspect the following day.
“Everyone in Minneapolis has the right to feel safe in their communities, and we are committed to ensuring that our Jewish neighbors are protected as they observe the holy days,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a press briefing. “We take all threats against religious institutions seriously and will hold accountable those who threaten any places of worship in our city.”
According to O’Hara, the suspect had used a phone app to disguise his voice while making multiple threats against the synagogue.
No firearm was recovered during the arrest.
The suspect was charged with making “terroristic threats,” and the case has been referred to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. While officers have not found direct evidence that the threats were motivated by antisemitism, O’Hara emphasized the concerning timing of the incidents.
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“Since the October 7 terrorist attacks, the most devastating attack on our Jewish community since the Holocaust, our officers have witnessed a rise in hateful rhetoric directed at residents simply because they are Jewish,” O’Hara added.
