{"id":130153,"date":"2026-03-05T08:04:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/130153\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T08:04:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T08:04:19","slug":"pittsburgh-police-increasing-patrols-at-religious-institutions-after-hateful-messages-on-scanner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/130153\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh police increasing patrols at religious institutions after hateful messages on scanner"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh police in Zone 4 are increasing patrols at religious institutions following disturbing messages broadcast over scanners<\/a> the past several days, City Councilmember Barb Warwick said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI read it in the news like everybody else. I immediately reached out for the police chief and our Zone 4 commander,\u201d City Councilperson Barb Warwick said.<\/p>\n

When Warwick heard about the continued hate speech being broadcast over dispatch radio, she immediately asked for extra patrols in her district, which includes part of Squirrel Hill. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to check in to be sure that we are doing ramped up patrols around Zone 4 in our Jewish communities, and religious institutions, the Islamic center. We just had Purim, and we are in the midst of Ramadan.\u201d <\/p>\n

Channel 11 reached out to a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Safety, who said directed patrols were increased around religious institutions and schools starting last weekend following events in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we do. Our public safety department, our bureau of police, they are very sensitive to all of these national issues, which have very real-world impacts here at home,\u201d Warwick said.<\/p>\n

Warwick said as law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, Pittsburgh police are asking the community to be vigilant and to call 911 to report any suspicious behavior. <\/p>\n

\u201cPittsburgh\u2019s ethnic and religious diversity is our strength and our asset. We must protect it as we continue to reject hate in all its forms,\u201d Warwick said.<\/p>\n

The disturbing messages have been broadcast on one of the police channels since Monday.<\/p>\n

Channel 11 listened to the recorded audio files from Monday night and heard Nazi-related songs, messages praising Hitler and a threat toward \u201cthe mayor of Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, our newsroom also heard the unknown voice praising Richard Poplowski, the man who killed three Pittsburgh Police officers in 2009, and Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue.<\/p>\n

Another message said to have extra security at the next stadium event.<\/p>\n

We spoke to Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O\u2019Connor Tuesday morning, who said, \u201cMy biggest concern when I heard them was obviously my family, my two little kids and my wife, but yeah, we\u2019re gonna go on our daily operations, we\u2019re not gonna run and hide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allegheny County officials clarified that the system was not hacked, but that an unknown user was able to access the analog radio system and transmit the messages. County officials said the transmissions are from an unidentified radio user who is not using a county or city-registered radio.<\/p>\n

The situation has not impacted police operations.<\/p>\n

Allegheny County Emergency Services, Allegheny County police, the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission are investigating.<\/p>\n

Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.<\/p>\n

So far, no one has been arrested, and investigators have not released any information about a suspect. <\/p>\n

Warwick wants to take every precaution. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have seen massive spikes in anti-Semitism all around the world. Gov. Shapiro was attacked in his home, the Bondi Beach incident at the start of Hanukkah. It\u2019s very scary. It\u2019s scary for people.\u201d<\/p>\n

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