Police departments in three major cities — including New York City — began ramping up their protection around local synagogues and places of worship after a lone gunman attacked a Jewish house of worship on Saturday in Colleyville, Texas.
Jews Being Held Hostage at Colleyville, Texas Synagogue
The synagogue’s rabbi and at least three other worshipers were still being held hostage five hours after the gunman entered the building during services broadcast on Facebook livestream.
As a precaution, has deployed cops to the synagogue where the rabbi works and others across the city https://t.co/wMhx6290IA pic.twitter.com/Beza9TIx0B
— myles miller (@MylesMill)
In New York, a rabbi received a call from Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, the rabbi who is being held hostage together with at least three worshipers in the Colleyville, Texas synagogue, conveying the terrorist’s demands to release his “sister,” a convicted terrorist, NBC New York reported.
The NYPD deployed its counter-terrorism teams to the synagogue where the rabbi received the call in New York out of an abundance of caution, according to NBC New York’s Tom Winter, and also deployed extra police to synagogues around the city.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, “We are closely monitoring the hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas and we’re praying for a peaceful and safe conclusion.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD has deployed additional resources to key Jewish locations around the city tonight,” he added.
Brooklyn synagogues were among those under special surveillance, said City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov.
As the hostage situation continues to unfold at a Texas synagogue, I want to assure my constituents that I have spoken with NYPD and they have increased patrols outside of Brooklyn synagogues.
Much thanks to the for reaching out to ease fears in the Jewish community.
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul added that she too is monitoring the situation, writing in a tweet, “My team and I are closely following the hostage situation at a Texas synagogue. There is no threat to New Yorkers at this time.
“Our thoughts are with the worshippers, the first responders, and the Jewish community across the country. Everyone deserves to worship without fear.”
In Brooklyn, the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol said a number of local precincts had already increased the patrols. “If you see something say something,” FSSP said in its tweet.
In light of the hostage situation at a Texas synagogue, the has increased patrols around our shuls as a precautionary measure,
Thank You for keeping us safe
If you see something say something
— Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol (@FlatbushShomrim)
In addition, the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol said that it, too, is stepping up patrols in light of the hostage situation. “We are in contact with local law enforcement, who are stationed at local houses of worship and also beefing up patrols,” the RNSP said in a tweet.
Philadelphia Police Department announced it was monitoring the hostage situation, adding, “While there are no indications that there are any ties to Philadelphia, the PPD has increased patrols around area synagogues and places of worship.”
Likewise in Dallas, Texas — not far from Colleyville — that city’s police department was deploying additional patrols to Dallas synagogues and other sites. “Police are working with the Jewish Federation and our local, state, and federal partners to monitor any concerns or threats based on the situation in Colleyville,” the city’s Mayor Eric Johnson wrote on Twitter.