Potential threat is reported against area Jewish community

A possible threat against the Jewish community in the Kansas City area on Tuesday has been resolved by law enforcement, according to the head of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

In a written statement, Helene Lotman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation, said area Jewish agencies became aware of a potential threat Tuesday morning to the “broader Kansas City Jewish community.”

“Working in collaboration with law enforcement officials, immediate steps were taken by our director of community security to secure our facilities,” she said in the statement. “Law enforcement has since resolved the situation, and we continue to work with local and national officials to maintain a safe and secure community.”

A spokeswoman for the FBI in Kansas City said she could not confirm or deny whether the FBI was investigating.

Lotman’s statement went on to say that Jewish community facilities would remain open “with regular security protocols in place, and normal activities will continue as scheduled.”

“Our No. 1 priority is the safety and security of our community, and we will continue to communicate with you as needed,” she said.

A federation spokeswoman said later Tuesday there was no additional information to provide.

In 2014, three people were shot to death outside Jewish facilities in Overland Park. Two of them were shot outside the Jewish Community Center.

F. Glenn Miller Jr., a 75-year-old southern Missouri neo-Nazi, carried out the attacks in an effort to kill as many Jews as possible. None of the victims was Jewish. A dashcam video showed Miller’s arrest.

A Johnson County jury convicted Miller, also known as Frazier Glenn Cross Jr. He was sentenced to death.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Potential threat is reported against area Jewish community."