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Report: Attack on Jewish youths in Warsaw foiled

Initial report reveals at least one Arab man takes over hotel room housing three Jewish youths in Warsaw's Holiday Inn. Local security forces overpower attacker, release hostages unharmed

A man, possibly an Arab, forcibly entered Monday a hotel room in Warsaw's Holiday Inn housing three Jewish Brazilian youths who were in Poland to attend March of the Living last week.

 

According to reports, local security forces managed to overpower the man and release the teens unharmed.

 

No Israeli delegations were staying at the hotel.

 

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aryeh Mekel reported that the incident took place at 10:35 am Israel time. A man who appeared to be drunk walked into the hotel and entered the Jewish teens' room. Local security personnel overpowered the man and handed him over to the police.

 

According to estimates, the man was unarmed.

 

The Polish media reported that the man arrested identified himself as Muhammad and is in his early twenties. He reportedly threatened the students he would blow them up, but no weapons or explosives were found on his body.

 

A search of the hotel uncovered no suspicious objects.

 

Israeli ambassador to Poland, David Peleg, told Ynet Monday that "Initial reports indicated that an unidentified man went awry in the lobby of the Holiday Inn in Warsaw."

 

According to Peleg, the man tried hiding in a room housing three of the teenagers who took part in March of the Living, but there was no indication at this time if they were Israeli or Jewish teens. 

 

Israeli security officials said that the man did not use violence.

 

Some 450 Israeli students are currently staying in Poland as part of Education Ministry delegations.

 

The Israeli delegations to Poland are being secured by Shin Bet personnel aided by local security forces.

 

Roni Sofer, Avi Cohen, Roi Mandel, Hanan Greenberg Moran Zelikovich, Attila Somfalvi and Yael Branovsky contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.05.08, 11:28
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