US Boosts Monitoring of Threats to Jewish, Muslim Communities

Law enforcement officials announced on Tuesday that they are intensifying efforts to monitor and address threats against Jewish and Muslim communities across the United States, prompted by a surge in hate crimes and an attempted terror attack amid escalating tensions from the war in the Middle East.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining a March 12 incident in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where a driver rammed a vehicle through the entrance doors of Temple Israel, the nation's second-largest Reform Jewish congregation. No injuries were reported in the attack, which authorities are treating as a potential act of terrorism. The event has heightened concerns as Jewish communities prepare for Passover observances.

During a national security briefing hosted by the Secure Community Network, an organization that coordinates security for Jewish communities in North America, officials from federal and local agencies assessed risks to faith-based sites and outlined strategies to enhance safety. "We know a goal of our enemies is to scare us into submission so that we make a decision to not show up," said Michael Masters, the network's national director. "With strong safety and...