Michigan Church Closed Tuesday After Threat List Found

Michigan Church Closed Tuesday After Threat List Found

A church in Michigan was closed Tuesday after its inclusion on a threat list that included multiple houses of worship.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Nov 17, 2017

A church in Michigan was closed Tuesday after its inclusion on a threat list that included multiple houses of worship.

The list was discovered Monday by a man who saw a suspicious package in his Dearborn Heights backyard. The toiletries bag contained a unloaded handgun and a map with multiple addresses circled and the word “target” written on it. Three of the addresses were houses of worship, including Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Masjid Bilal.

"Somebody put this stuff into a bag to create the impression that a threat exists," said Grand Rapids Police Lt. Pat Merrill. "Now the question is how valid is it and we're gonna work that."

The police informed Westminster Presbyterian that it was in no immediate danger, but it still cancelled some services and closed the Westminster Child Development Center, Downtown Food Pantry, Open Door Ministry and offices for the day. In a Facebook post, the church said, "We are always mindful of a balance between hospitality and security.” It added, "We are steadfast in our commitment to creating a hospitable and gracious environment for our city and neighbors, while doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our staff and daycare families."

Police were on patrol Tuesday night at the Masjid Bilal to help attendees feel safer. The mosque holds prayer services every night, and those gathering Tuesday said they welcomed the extra police presence after learning the mosque was on the threat list.

The FBI and several police agencies investigating the list have no information yet on the gun’s owner or whether there are any suspects. A statewide investigation is ongoing.

The threat list comes less than 14 days after the Sutherland Springs church shooting, which left 26 dead and at least 20 injured.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.