SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Hours after a Southwest Miami-Dade Jewish Community Center was evacuated due to reports of a bomb threat, it was discovered that JCCs across the country had received similar threats, disrupting the school day for hundreds of people.
According to officials, several JCCs in Florida were among those across the U.S. that received similar bomb threats via phone calls, Monday morning, which prompted numerous JCCs to evacuate everyone in their buildings, including the Miami Beach JCC and the Dave and Mary Alper JCC, in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to reports of a possible explosive device inside Dave and Mary Alper JCC, located at 11155 S.W. 112 Ave., Monday morning, after someone phoned in the threat, earlier that morning.
Meanwhile, a bomb threat was made at the Miami Beach JCC, located at 4221 Pine Tree Drive, around 10:45 a.m. The building was evacuated as Miami Beach Police swept inside the center.
Just before 11 a.m., MDFR officials ordered the evacuation of 450 students and 70 staff members from three different schools located at the Southwest Miami-Dade JCC.
Related: Bomb threat made at Miami Beach JCC
“Then everybody got nervous,” one student said.
At around noon, 112th Avenue was blocked off to vehicular traffic as law enforcement officials investigated the premises.
Shortly after, three police K-9 officers were seen on the scene investigating the campus.
Students, faculty members and staff were ordered to gather in groups, about a block away, at 112th Street and 112th Avenue, in an area of tennis and basketball courts. Family members were seen pulling up to these courts, waiting to be reunited with their children.
Many parents arrived to pick up their children on the courts just before 1 p.m.
Around that time, in Miami Beach, the all-clear was given at the Miami Beach JCC.
As Miami-Dade Police investigated in Southwest Miami-Dade, officers and fire rescue officials advised parents to remain calm and collected as they waited to pick up their children. By 3 p.m., the all-clear was given there.
Per protocol, law enforcement took the threat at Dave and Mary Alper JCC seriously.
“In this world, you never know what’s going to happen,” said parent Kelly Fung. “You never know when’s your last breath, so I’m just happy.”
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation said, in a statement, that they always need to remain vigilant when it comes to security.
Bomb threats were also reported in the United Kingdom.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.