Stabbing attack at synagogue
צילום: RTVI
Moscow stabber slams 'Jewish mafia'
Alexander Kopstev, 20, charged with attacking 9 worshippers at Moscow synagogue, claims innocence because 'law was written by Jewish mobsters'
Local criminal laws were “written by Jews and Jewish mobsters, and I therefore refuse to admit guilt,” asserted Alexander Koptsev, 20, the Russian man accused of stabbing nine Jewish worshippers at a Moscow synagogue a month ago.
Koptsev, a Moscow resident, made the comment at the opening of his trial, immediately after the prosecutor read the charges against him. According to the prosecution, the attack was premeditated as Koptsev attempted to attack Jews on two previous occasions, Russian news agency RIA Novosty reported.
The first time he tried to break into the synagogue in December 2005 but it was locked, and the second time, in early January, he arrived at the wrong address, the prosecution claimed.
Then on January 11, he entered the synagogue, apparently drunk, and attacked worshippers assembled there yelling, “I’ve come to kill Jews” and other anti-Semitic slogans. He was finally overpowered by the rabbi and his son, but not before he managed to wound nine people. Around 100 people were in the synagogue at the time of the attack.
The trial was open to the public, but judges barred television crews from accessing the courtroom, by request of both the prosecution and the defense.
“The television is under the control of the little Jew gang,” Koptsev said.
If convicted, Koptsev likely awaits a life sentence.
