Update 6:00 p.m.:
Temple Shalom in Port Charlotte received a bomb threat via email on New Year's Day, prompting an immediate response from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
The synagogue's president, Judi Migdol, said their secretary discovered the threatening email when she came in to work.
Watch Fox 4's Allie Kaiser speak with the president of Temple Shalom about the frightening message:
"This is not how we wanted to start the new year. Why can't we have a year of peace?" Migdol said.
The email contained derogatory language against Jewish people and the police. The message also claimed that a bomb was left near the building, and requested payment to a Bitcoin account.
"We didn't know is it a scam or is it real? We had to take action on it, because you don't know," Migdol said.
Deputies responded quickly after Migdol called to report the threat.
"After evacuating the area and conducting sweeps both outside and inside the buildings, no device was located," the sheriff's office said.
Although authorities deemed the threat cleared, Migdol expressed concern about its impact on her community.
"It hurts because there's just too much hatred out there against Jews and everybody else," Migdol said.
She is concerned that the incident could discourage people from attending services.
"We don't want people coming and being afraid to be here, then they won't come. It's very scary that we have to live this way," Migdol said.
Migdol said this is the first time she has heard of a threat like this being made to Temple Shalom, and she hopes it will be the last.
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UPDATE 1:12 p.m.:
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said the Temple Shalom received a bomb threat on Thursday morning. That threat was unfounded, deputies said.
According to a press release, the synagogue got the bomb threat, which led to evacuations in the area.
The sheriff's office said after searching both inside and outside the building, they did not find any bomb.
As a precaution, the fire department was called to standby as deputies searched.
They have since cleared the scene.
Fox 4 is speaking with leaders at the synagogue and we'll bring you their response.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Charlotte County deputies have surrounded a Port Charlotte neighborhood, blocking multiple roads.
Deputies can be seen blocking several streets in the neighborhood including Sherwood Road, Utica Avenue and Leamington Road.
Fox 4 has reached out to the sheriff's office and Charlotte County Fire for details about the scene.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more details when they're available.
