pittsburgh synagogue shooting

Bay Area synagogues increase security after Pennsylvania synagogue shooting

By by Cornell W. Barnard
Saturday, October 27, 2018
"THE FEAR IS COPYCATS": Synagogues in the Bay Area are taking no chances in the wake of the Pennsylvania shooting. Security has been increased considerably to prevent any possible violence.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Synagogues in the Bay Area are taking no chances in the wake of the Pennsylvania shooting. Security has been increased considerably to prevent any possible violence.

David Bolaffi is checking all the doors at San Francisco's Congregation Sherith Israel, making sure they are locked and secured.
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RELATED: Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: 11 dead, 6 others injured, including 4 police officers, FBI says

"The fear is copycats," Bolaffi said.

Bolaffi is security chief for the temple, where security has been stepped up, in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. Congregants are entering through a side door, escorted by guards.



"It is tragic, it is a hate crime. Hatred will not be tolerated. There is no place for hate, " Bolaffi added.



A San Francisco police officer was on patrol outside Temple Emanu-el in Presidio Heights.

Rabbi Beth Singer said a metal detector is nothing new outside her synagogue and neither is the fear of violence.
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"It's something I'm personally worried about every day because of the rise of gun violence in churches, in schools and public places," said Rabbi Singer.

RELATED: Anti-Semitic flyers found at five East Bay synagogues ahead of Jewish High Holidays

We also found police officers on patrol around San Francisco's Jewish Community Center.



State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, blasted the president for suggesting the shooting rampage may have had a different outcome if the Pennsylvania synagogue had an armed guard.

"The solution is fewer guns and for the president to stop with his hate rhetoric inspiring people to commit acts of terrorism," said Wiener.

RELATED: What we know about Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect
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So far, there's no evidence suggesting shooting suspect Robert Bower's acts were politically motivated.

For now, Rabbi Singer is making sure members of her temple feel safe.



"We pray for peace, we say Shabbat Shalom on this day, we pray for peace everywhere," Rabbi Singer said.

PHOTOS: Police response to Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
A person pauses in front of Stars of David with the names of those killed in a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.AP
Muslims from Hydrabad seen placing a temporary grave for Irving Younger at the makeshift memorial after the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life.AP
A Pittsburgh Police officer walks past the Tree of Life Synagogue and a memorial of flowers and stars in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan holds a sign honoring the victims of a deadly shooting spree at a synagogue on Saturday during the second half of an NFL football game.AP
A person stands in front of Stars of David that are displayed in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue with the names of those killed in Saturday's deadly shooting.AP
People arrive to pay their respects in front of a memorial on October 28, 2018, outside of the Tree of Life synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead.AP
Gideon Murphy places a flower at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
People stand in front of a memorial on October 28, 2018, outside of the Tree of Life Synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018.AP
People wait their turn to place flowers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
Two people support each other in front of flowers at a makeshift memorial at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
Pittsburgh Steelers fans sit behind a banner with a Star of David beside their Steelers blanket as they watch the teams warm up.AP
Flowers sit at a makeshift memorial at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
A woman holds a candle during a vigil in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018, to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People hold candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.AP
People gather for a vigil in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018, to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day.AP
Braddock, Pa., Mayor John Fetterman hugs a person as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation.AP
People gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Police stand guard outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Police speak with members of the community after a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
Flowers are left on a sidewalk after a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
Media tents and vehicles line an intersection near the Tree of Life Synagogue, upper left, where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Rapid reaction SWAT members leave the scene of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.AP
Bishop David Zubick of the Diocese of Pittsburgh addresses members of the media near the Tree of Life Synagogue, the scene of a mass shooting earlier in the morning, in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Denise Fulton cries as she speaks with Bishop David Zubick after she came to show support for members of the community near the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
A SWAT team truck turns on a street near the Tree of Life Synagogue, after a gunman opened fire inside at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018.Creative Content
People comfort each other at the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich describes the gravity of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.Creative Content
Tammy Hepps, Kate Rothstein and her daughter, Simone Rothstein, 16, pray from a prayerbook a block away from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
Rapid reaction SWAT members leave the scene of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Tammy Hepps, Kate Rothstein and her daughter, Simone Rothstein, 16, pray from a prayerbook a block away from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Residents talk to the media near the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
Police rapid response team members respond to the site of a shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Creative Content
People gather on a corner near the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, injuring multiple people.AP
A SWAT team arrives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. where a shooter opened fire injuring multiple people, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
Neighbors around the corner from the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue embrace one another in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.Creative Content
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
First responders arrive at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa.m, where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.AP
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.Creative Content
First responders surround the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa., where a shooter opened fire Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.Creative Content



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