Pittsburgh police, FBI investigate threats to city churches

Pittsburgh police and the FBI have launched a joint investigation to determine if there are any links between two threats to city churches last Sunday.

St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in Greenfield was evacuated after a man called 911 and threatened to harm himself and others at the church, police said. The unidentified man told 911 he had multiple firearms.

Police cleared the church and established there was no visible threat inside or outside the church before the congregants were escorted to safety.

At the same time, parishioners at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church on the North Side called police Sunday after a congregant was seen carrying a gun during the service. The man provided police with a valid conceal carry permit and was allowed to leave.

“Pittsburgh Public Safety takes all threats of violence or terrorism extremely seriously,” said Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich. “Pittsburgh Police Intelligence Unit detectives are working closely with our federal partners within FBI Pittsburgh, sharing information and intelligence to determine the origin of the threats.”

Police have added extra patrols and are taking additional precautions to safeguard these churches and all houses of worship in the City of Pittsburgh, according to a statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety.

The investigation is active and ongoing and updates to the public will be provided when they become available, it said.