On Sunday morning, at around 10:45 a.m., while in Newark at the Federations Cemetery Day, we were made aware of the discovery of an explosive device at the B’nai Abraham Cemetery on South 19th Street at South Orange Avenue.

Essex County Sheriff Department police, supported by our Federation Chief Security Officer Bob Wilson, were escorting Jewish community members into the cemetery as part of our Jewish Federation Cemetery Visiting Day. They noticed a suspicious device on a headstone. Visitors were asked to leave the area; on further investigation, the officers found what appeared to be a homemade explosive device consisting of a non-military firework mortar taped to a container of commercial lubricant.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded and removed the item promptly to dispose of it in a safe manner. The bomb tech advised that the device as constructed would not have functioned. The cemetery was opened after a complete check of the premises was conducted. Total time of disruption was under an hour. There is no indication at this time that the device was targeted as a bias/hate crime incident, but we will be following up with our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security to advise them of the incident.

I’m deeply grateful to Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant Russ Mead; the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; our Chief Security Officer Bob Wilson; and to Federation’s board, which just last week voted to increase fencing and security procedures at Jewish cemeteries in Newark. Although the fence in this location is intact, it reinforces the need for vigilance, constant awareness and our ongoing security efforts to protect the community.