London police investigating bomb threat to local Jewish synagogue

London police are investigating the source of a bomb threat that was emailed to the Congregation Or Shalom on Huron Street early Wednesday morning.

The threat was one of more than 100 that were sent to Jewish organizations across Canada at the same time.

"The building was empty at the time the email was received and a thorough search of both inside and outside of the building was conducted by members of the London Police ServiceCanine Unit," said Sgt. Sandasha Bough in a statement to CBC News."Nothing suspicious was located."

Bough said investigators are now probing the origin of the email, along with other police services across Canada.

"Yesterday, several Jewish organizations in London were among roughly 125 Jewish institutions across Canada that received bomb threats as part of a coordinated effort to incite fear and disrupt our communities," said Rob Nagus, the executive director of Jewish London.

The emailed threat was sent to the synagogue at 536Huron Street, which is also the home of the London Jewish Community Centre and Village Apartments.

"The London Police Service responded swiftly and thoroughly, and after a careful assessment, it has been determined that there is no longer a credible threat to the safety of our cherished Jewish institutions."

Nagus said the situation is also a call forthe local Jewish community to remain vigilantandthe greater community to stand against hate.

"We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. If you observe any suspicious activity, please contact the police immediately," he said."Let us stand together in the face of hatred and work collectively to reduce the temperature of discrimination in Canada."

RCMP investigating threats nationwide

According to RCMP Sgt. Charles Poirier, the email was sent at 5:11 a.m. to a number of synagogues and other centres, nearly all of them linked to Jewish communities.

CBC News has viewed a copy of the email, which contains violent death threats involving explosives.

Poirier said the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team out of Montreal is leading the investigation and is trying to determine the sender's IP address. He said the team was aware of the email sent in India and is in contact with international partners to see if suspects had been identified, and whether similar emails were sent in other places as well.

"Montreal police have deployed in some of those synagogues. And they basically went there to ensure that there were no suspicious packages or suspicious activities. So far, they found nothing," Poirier said.

"It's the exact same thing that occurred in the rest of the country."