PITTSBURGH ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY HERE IS REACTING. MOMENTS AFTER THAT ATTACK ON A SYNAGOGUE THURSDAY IN MICHIGAN, THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH GOT A CALL FROM PITTSBURGH’S MAYOR, SAYING THERE WOULD BE INCREASED POLICE PATROLS AT PITTSBURGH’S SYNAGOGUES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS LIKE THIS ONE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. YOU KNOW ANYBODY IN PITTSBURGH WHO HEARS THIS NEWS? IT REALLY HITS OUR COMMUNITY HARD. SHAWN WAS REMARKING ON THAT EERILY FAMILIAR FEELING WHEN SHE LEARNS OF AN ATTACK ON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND IT BRINGS BACK THE TRAUMA, THE ANXIETY FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN 2018. WE ARE VERY MUCH IN A STATE OF PREPAREDNESS, AND IT’S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THAT’S JUST HOW IT HAS TO BE. AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SECURITY, FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE INVESTIGATION IN MICHIGAN CLOSELY AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF DETROIT, WE KNOW THAT A VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY DROVE INTO THE SYNAGOGUE, ACTUALLY MADE IT IN AND DOWN THE HALL. POLICE SAID THE SUSPECT WAS KILLED. CHILDREN AND STAFF WERE EVACUATED AND NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT. SEEING AN INCREASE IN ATTACKS LIKE THIS ONE, WE HAVE VEHICULAR ASSAULTS. WE HAVE SEEN THEM INCREASE IN USE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK TO DO HERE IN PITTSBURGH IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BOLLARDS IN FRONT OF THEM. AND COCO SAYS SHE EXPECTS TO SEE THOSE EXTRA PATROLS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WE PLAN TO ASK PITTSBURGH POLICE CHIEF JASON LANDO ABOUT LOGISTICS AND THEIR PLANS FOR THESE PATROLS. COMING UP TODAY AT 1 P.M. PRESS CONFERENCE COV
Pittsburgh police increase security among city’s Jewish community after Michigan attack
Updated: 12:49 PM EDT Mar 13, 2026
Following an attack on a Michigan synagogue, Pittsburgh’s Jewish community is enhancing security measures, with police conducting extra patrols at local synagogues, schools, and community centers.In response to an attack on a Michigan synagogue on Thursday, Pittsburgh’s mayor informed the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh that police would conduct extra patrols of Jewish institutions in the city until further notice.Shawn Brokos, Director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said, “You know, anybody in Pittsburgh who hears this news, it really hits our community hard.” Brokos remarked on the familiar feeling when learning of an attack on the Jewish community, saying, “And it brings back the trauma, the anxiety from what happened in 2018.” She added, “We are very much in a state of preparedness, and it’s unfortunate, but that’s just how it has to be.”Brokos is closely following the investigation in Michigan and staying in touch with the Jewish Federation of Detroit. She said, “We know that a vehicle intentionally drove into the synagogue, actually made it in and down the hall.” Police reported that the suspect was killed, children and staff were evacuated, and no one else was hurt.Brokos noted an increase in attacks like this one, stating, “We have vehicular assaults. We have seen them increase in use over the past couple of years. And one of the things we look to do here in Jewish Pittsburgh is make sure that our organizations have bollards in front of them.”Brokos said she expects to see these extra patrols for the next several days.
PITTSBURGH —
Following an attack on a Michigan synagogue, Pittsburgh’s Jewish community is enhancing security measures, with police conducting extra patrols at local synagogues, schools, and community centers.
In response to an attack on a Michigan synagogue on Thursday, Pittsburgh’s mayor informed the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh that police would conduct extra patrols of Jewish institutions in the city until further notice.
Shawn Brokos, Director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said, “You know, anybody in Pittsburgh who hears this news, it really hits our community hard.” Brokos remarked on the familiar feeling when learning of an attack on the Jewish community, saying, “And it brings back the trauma, the anxiety from what happened in 2018.” She added, “We are very much in a state of preparedness, and it’s unfortunate, but that’s just how it has to be.”
Brokos is closely following the investigation in Michigan and staying in touch with the Jewish Federation of Detroit. She said, “We know that a vehicle intentionally drove into the synagogue, actually made it in and down the hall.” Police reported that the suspect was killed, children and staff were evacuated, and no one else was hurt.
Brokos noted an increase in attacks like this one, stating, “We have vehicular assaults. We have seen them increase in use over the past couple of years. And one of the things we look to do here in Jewish Pittsburgh is make sure that our organizations have bollards in front of them.”
Brokos said she expects to see these extra patrols for the next several days.