Fairfax County police are elevating their presence near Washington, D.C.-area Jewish institutions in light of Sunday’s attack on a Jewish community event in Boulder, Colorado. D.C. and Montgomery County police claimed to have already increased their response following the fatal shooting of two outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21.
On June 1, a man with a makeshift flamethrower threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd of people in Boulder and yelled, “Free Palestine” and “End all Zionists” before being taken into police custody, according to The Washington Post. He injured at least 12 people who ranged in age from 52 to 88, including a Holocaust survivor.
The suspect targeted the group of Jewish community members participating in the Run for Their Lives, an international movement that calls for the release of the hostages held in Gaza. He was charged with a federal hate crime, according to an affidavit filed Monday.
The suspect told investigators that he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and would carry out the attack again, according to the affidavit.
D.C.-area police said although there are no specific threats to the DMV Jewish community currently, they are taking additional measures to ensure the safety of area faith-based institutions.
“The Metropolitan Police Department is closely monitoring the events that unfolded this afternoon in Boulder, Colorado,” a statement by the Metropolitan Police Department read. “At this time, there are no known threats to the District. However, MPD has maintained an increased presence at religious institutions across the city, with particular attention to Jewish institutions.”
D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said officers would increase their presence around faith-based institutions, including the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center.
“We are enhancing our patrols and visibility throughout the country around our synagogues and all places of worship, ensuring a strong, supportive presence,” Fairfax County police wrote in a June 1 post on X.
The Montgomery County Department of Police also has increased its presence throughout the county, according to a MCDP status update on X. After the Capital Jewish Museum shooting, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said on May 22 that police had increased visibility and patrols “near faith-based institutions.”
“We remind everyone to remain vigilant,” the post read. “If you see something, say something.”
