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'There's just some evil people out there' | Beaumont Jewish synagogue received bomb threat on New Year's Eve

At 10:27 a.m. Beaumont Police received a call about an email that Temple Emanuel received which contained a threat to bomb the synagogue.

BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont Jewish synagogue received a bomb threat on New Year's Eve.

On January 2, 2024 at 10:27 a.m. Beaumont Police received a call about an email that Temple Emanuel received which contained a threat to bomb the synagogue.

The email was sent to the Temple Emanuel administration email, according to President of the Congregation Ken Parker.

Parker told 12News that the email was sent to six other Jewish congregations across Texas.

12News obtained a copy of the email. It stated "I placed multiple bombs inside of your synagogue. The bombs will go off in a few hours. You will all die."

Credit: Temple Emanuel

Parker alerted Beaumont Police.

"They said their was no, no visible entrance, no doors were messed up. So, it looks pretty good that nothing ever happened," Parker said. 

At the bottom of the email there was a phone number. 12News called and the woman on the other end of the line was distraught. Her number was spoofed. 

"I would never go out of my way to disrespect any type of religion or anything and whoever is doing this is really messed up," she said. 

This is the second time a place of worship has received a bomb threat in Beaumont. On Christmas Day, Antioch Christmas morning services were interrupted but not canceled by a bomb threat.

"I just think people are you know whether it's Judaism, I know the Antioch Church got the same kind of bomb threat over Christmas. I think there's just some evil people out there that have evil intentions," Parker said. 

Beaumont Police say they take every bomb threat seriously.

"We don't want anyone to put fear in any of our residents. Unfortunately, places of worship are often targeted because they know that there's a large group of people there," said Beaumont Police Officer Haley Morrow. 

"Oh it was very reassuring, that you know I can come to work and be safe and the people of the congregation they can go to services and be safe," said the Temple Emanuel's receptionist, Leah Trahan. 

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information. 

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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information. 

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