Police: Jewish center near Seattle evacuated for bomb threat

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. – Police say a Jewish community center in suburban Seattle was evacuated after a bomb threat.

The Seattle Times reports a King County Sheriff’s Office bomb dog swept the Mercer Island Jewish Community Center building Monday evening.

Mercer Island police Cmdr. Leslie Burns said the threat was made by phone about 4:45 p.m. and she was not at liberty to reveal its contents.

Mercer Island police responded to help evacuate the building, which holds as many as 250 people.

Burns said the city was prepared and had discussed the possibility of threats given “what has been happening elsewhere around the country.”

It was the fifth round of bomb threats against Jewish institutions since January.

The JCC Association of North America said Jewish centers and schools in at least a dozen states Monday received threats. No bombs were found.