Alarming, unattended package near Temple Beth-El: FBI, Birmingham police on scene

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Birmingham police both visited the location of an unattended package Friday near Temple Beth-El, a synagogue in Birmingham, Alabama.

According to Truman Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for the Birmingham Police Department, the FBI, and local police were alerted to a suspicious package in the nearby bushes on Friday morning at 8:30 am by the head of security for the neighbourhood Jewish federation.

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The backpack was also suspicious when law enforcement arrived on the scene, according to the police.

“Once our techs got on the scene, they were not able to tell what was in the backpack, but what they observed was alarming,” Fitzgerald said.

As per Fitzgerald, law police retrieved the backpack using robotic equipment and are now moving it to a secure place so it can be examined.

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At least one recent threat against the synagogue is known to Fitzgerald, he claimed. He claimed that following that threat, police were called in response to a complaint of a suspicious parcel. Fitzgerald claimed that the situation “wasn’t as extreme,” and police were able to take down any danger.

The incident on Friday happened a day after federal law enforcement in New Jersey alerted neighbourhood synagogues to a state-wide threat against Jewish organisations. Fitzgerald said it’s important to keep in mind the bigger picture.

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“Our Jewish community has always been targeted, and it makes you just want to wrap your arms around them and do what you can to protect them,” Fitzgerald added.

The Birmingham Police Department had only released a few details regarding the incident in an earlier statement.

The initial statement from the police said, “BPD is on the scene of an unattended package near Temple Beth-El (20179 Highland Avenue).”