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Security a top priority following Jewish Community Center threats

Posted at 5:26 PM, Feb 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-21 21:12:46-05

Jewish communities are on high alert in South Florida after dozens of bomb scares and other acts of intimidation took place in the last 24 hours.

This is the third time Jewish Centers and other gathering places have been targeted en masse this year. 

At the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, keeping 5,000 people safe is a top priority. Just two weeks ago two bomb threats were called in.

"Of course we're concerned," said Chief Operating Officer Mel Lowell.

Lowell said his team is ready for whatever threat may be out there, especially after a recent wave of bomb threats across the nation and anattack on a Missouri Jewish cemetery in which vandals knocked over dozens ofgravestones.

Lowell strives to make sure his community is safe. "Yes we do review the policies and procedures. They're practiced and we do meet every day."

President Trump condemned racism and anti-Semitism Tuesday.

Lowell is doing the same, but knows his priority right now is security. "Unfortunately these things are not going away. It's been that way since the dawn of history and probably stay that way and all you can do is do your best to deal with them safely and effectively."