Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), Co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today issued the following statement on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) work to mitigate the broad threat against synagogues in New Jersey:

“Special thanks to FBI officials and local law enforcement officers for taking swift action to monitor and mitigate the broad threat from a NJ-based individual intending to attack a Jewish synagogue and for working tirelessly to ensure our communities remain secure.

The warning issued by the FBI on Thursday was a chilling reminder that no one anywhere is immune from the alarming surge in antisemitic hate across our country and around the world.

Upon hearing of the threat, I immediately met with law enforcement officials and Jewish community leaders in Ocean County to offer my full and unwavering support and do whatever is necessary to keep our community members safe.

The FBI has informed me that they have a high level of confidence that the subject in custody is the individual who posed this threat, and they report the individual no longer poses a threat to the community at this time. Furthermore, they have no indication of any outstanding threat.

Still, there must be absolutely zero tolerance at the local, state and federal levels for hate-fueled crimes against members of the Jewish community. Accordingly, the FBI investigation is ongoing and the FBI, along with their law enforcement partners, continue attempts to uncover any others with whom the subject may have been in contact.

Now more than ever, we must come together to defeat this pernicious hatred in all of its evil forms wherever it exists.”