Police and federal agents are asking the public to remain vigilant while they investigate antisemitic graffiti and a threat made on the third day of Hanukkah to detonate hidden explosives “inside of every Hawaii synagogue.”
The email was sent at 11:23 a.m. Saturday to 11 email addresses connected to Jewish groups statewide during the Festival of Lights, according to a screen grab of the threat shared with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
“Hi, there are multiple explosives placed inside your synagogue but also inside of every Hawaii synagogue,” read the threat, sent from iwillsmashyourheadwithahammer1@skiff.com. “The explosives are well hidden and will go off in a few hours. You will all die, you all deserve to suffer.”
Who sent the threat to blow up Jewish gathering places in Hawaii is not clear, and law enforcement did not find explosives. The email is registered to an IP address in Europe that is often used by cybercriminals trying to thwart detection by law enforcement.
Sarah Yoro, an HPD spokesperson, told the Star-Advertiser the department was notified and opened a first-degree terroristic threatening case. HPD officers searched Temple Emanu-El in Nuuanu on Saturday.
“Officers searched the property but did not find anything suspicious,” said Yoro. “No arrests have been made at this time. Officers will be making periodic checks of the area. The investigation is ongoing.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is aware of the “threats and take these threats very seriously.”
“However, there is currently no threat to public safety,” said Joy Van Der Voort, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Honolulu Division. “The FBI works closely with our local law enforcement partners to assess and respond to threats and keep our community safe. The FBI would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that if they come across any suspicious activity to report it to law enforcement.”
The FBI encourages the public to immediately report anything suspicious to the FBI at 808-566-4300.