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Photo: AP
Jewish cemetery desecrated in Russia (archives)
Photo: AP

Explosion rocks synagogue in Russia

Russian news agencies report homemade explosive device placed on synagogue's windowsill in city of Saratov exploded Sunday night; no injuries reported, but building slightly damaged

A homemade explosive device exploded Sunday night outside a synagogue in the Russian city of Saratov. Russian news agencies reported that there were no injuries in the incident.

 

"No one was hurt, but a window was shattered as a result of the explosion," a local police source told the Interfax and RIA-Novosti news agencies. He added that the blast was caused by a homemade explosive device which was placed on one of the synagogue's windowsills.

 

Interfax reported that Jewish organizations in Russia expressed their concern over the incident.

 

A report published in April revealed that the number of anti-Semitic acts around the world, especially in Europe, registered a large increase during 2006.

 

According to the report, 590 acts of vandalism and violence were committed during 2006 against Jewish people, property and institutes such as synagogues and cemeteries.

 

The number of physical attacks against Jews, including children and adolescents, doubled compared to 2005.

 

This information was published in a report compiled by the Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism in Tel Aviv University together with the World Jewish Congress.

 

The report stated that the attacks were mostly random, making it very difficult to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. In reality, many of the attacks were committed by Muslim immigrants and far-right groups.

 

A total of 324 violent incidents was registered in Europe, higher than in other regions of the world.

 

The highest number of anti-Semitic acts commited in the UK in the last 20 years was registered. The statistics in France and Belgium also show an increase in anti-Semitism. Germany remained steady but high, holding the record for desecrating cemeteries and Holocaust-memorial monuments.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.07.07, 15:37
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