Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By simmons on February 28, 2017

By Michael Bodley, San Francisco Chronicle

A block of San Franciscos busy Market Street was shut down in both directions for more than two hours at rush hour Monday evening because of a bomb threat at the offices of the Anti-Defamation League, authorities said.

The 700 block was closed in both directions between OFarrell and Kearny streets. Just before 7 p.m. police gave the all clear and the street was reopened.

The Anti-Defamation League, which has offices at 720 Market St., was the target of the threat, according to police Capt. Teresa Ewins. Ewins said that at 4:19 p.m., the groups receptionist received a bomb threat over the phone.

Police interviewed the receptionist, while bomb-sniffing dogs were on the scene at 720 Market and adjacent buildings.

Photo: Michael Bodley / The Chronicle

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Market Street closed in both directions by police activity February 27th, 2017 (Photo from KTVU)

Market Street closed in both directions by police activity February 27th, 2017 (Photo from KTVU)

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

Police evacuated buildings near Market St. and Third St. in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

A pedestrian inquires about a way around a closed portion of Market Street after a bomb threat at 720 Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 27, 2017.

A pedestrian inquires about a way around a closed portion of Market Street after a bomb threat at 720 Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Pedestrians inquire about a way around a closed portion of Market Street after a bomb threat at 720 Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Pedestrians inquire about a way around a closed portion of Market Street after a bomb threat at 720 Market Street in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

Police shut down a block of San Franciscos Market Street on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2017, because of a bomb threat phoned into the offices of the Anti-Defamation League.

SFs Market Street reopened after bomb threat to Anti-Defamation League

About two dozen San Francisco police officers were on the scene. Businesses along the block including a Wells Fargo bank branch, a 7-11, a CVS and a Walgreens were evacuated. No evidence of a bomb was found, but police used an abundance of caution, said Ewins.

The threat was one of 28 called into Jewish community centers and schools in 17 states on Monday. A threatening phone call was reported at the Oshman Family Jewish community center in Palo Alto.

One threat or evacuation is one too many, and yet weve now seen more than 20 incidents in a single day not just to ADL, but to children's schools and community centers -- and more than 90 incidents since the start of this year, said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. The level of threats and incidents is astounding, and must not stand. We will do everything in our power to combat this wave of anti-Semitism.

Threats against Jewish organizations and community centers have proliferated since President Trump took office in January, according to community leaders.

Vlad Khaykin, who directs the San Francisco office of the Anti-Defamation League, has tweeted several times in the past week about the rising number of threats, noting that there had been 50 bomb threats to Jewish community centers in 2017 and 90 threats against Jewish institutions.

This is not normal, he wrote.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley

Read more from the original source:
SF's Market Street reopened after bomb threat to Anti-Defamation League - SFGate

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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