A packed Shabbos morning at BMG’s “Yoshon building” on 7th Street was abruptly interrupted when police ordered a full evacuation due to a man nearby who made specific threats against BMG.
Both the Yoshon Bais Medrash and the Mizrach Bais Medrash were filled to capacity at the time. Lakewood Police instructed all mispallelim to exit the building, which remained closed until an all-clear was later given, following a sweep by a K-9 which found the threats to be not credible.
The man who was making threats was taken into custody by Lakewood police. Charges are pending.
In Yoshon, the evacuation came in the middle of Mussaf Shemoneh Esrei, with davening relocating across the street to Bais Yitzchok. In Mizrach, which was just before Mussaf, mispallelim dispersed and continued davening in several nearby locations.
Multiple emergency agencies responded to the scene assist, including the Lakewood Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson police.
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