SYLVANIA (WTOL) - Terrorism suspect Damon Joseph planned an attack for Temple Shomer Emunim.
An FBI agent confirmed Damon Joseph visited the Jewish Community Center campus in Sylvania with an undercover US employee last week.
Now, the Temple’s congregants are seeking security reassurances from law enforcement after a discussion Tuesday night.
According to a court affidavit, Damon Joseph visited the synagogue complex he was targeting last Thursday with an undercover operative.
The JCC campus is home to two synagogues, B’nai Israel and Temple Shomer Emunim. The affidavit states that Joseph wanted to attack two synagogues, but believed one was probably more realistic.
According to the affidavit, Joseph wanted to inflict mass casualties and said he would likely target the larger synagogue.
Jewish congregants expressed their gratitude to the FBI Tuesday night for foiling Joseph’s plans and arresting him last Friday.
Many community members asked the FBI about potential threats and future concerns for their safety.
Ultimately, everyone was seeking peace for their community.
“I think it’s really a feeling of sadness that citizens have to live in fear. I think we need to work very hard as a society to find ways to eliminate hatred," said Rabbi Sam Weinstein, with Temple Shomer Emunim.
Congregants asked the FBI a variety of questions like whether they should carry firearms in their house of worship and what future threats the FBI was monitoring.
Many seemed more relaxed after the discussion.
Leaders say they will continue to monitor their security plans with the FBI and Sylvania Township Police. In addition, they said they do everything they can to make people feel safe, whether that’s on the Sabbath, a holiday, or any other day.
“Fear is a natural emotion and understandable. But we want to reassure everyone that there is nothing to be afraid of," said Lynn Nusbaum, the executive director of Temple Shomer Emunium.
“We’re not going to let anything stop us from living our lives. You know, and especially living Jewishly. The Jewish community, that’s who we are. We’re not going to let one person scare us because of a potential threat. We’re not even going let one person scare us if we’ve have any type of bomb threat. I mean we’ve had bomb threats here in the past. We’re going to continue to live on. We’re going to continue to continue fighting our fight and I guess that’s what we have to do, right?” said Tina Stieben, with the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo.