Police chief receives threat letter

The police received a few days ago a letter threatening the life of Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen. Immediately upon receiving the letter, the police opened a joint investigation with Shin Bet units. In addition, security measures were tightened around the commissioner.

The news of the letter was first revealed on Channel 2 TV.

The intimidation letter read, "You have been marked for the world to come. Your judgment day is near." . It was not signed or addressed. Police estimate those behind the letter are extreme right-wing activists, who are acting in response to the construction freeze in the West Bank and the commissioner's comments against the settler rioters.

Despite their estimates, police is not ruling out other leads, and are also looking into the possible involvement of crime organization.

Last week, the commissioner said there has been "a sharp increase in violence and insubordination against police officers and public servants, which deviates from the legitimate manner of protest and freedom of speech."

The commissioner added that "the significant threats against law enforcement elements are meant to discourage their actions and cross the line by exercising violence and damage to property."

The commissioner's security guards, who belong to a special police unit, were briefed on the special security measures in the past, when the commissioner's life was threatened by organized crime elements.

'No reason to panic'

Former police and Shin Bet seniors believe Cohen has no real reason to worry and estimated that the person behind the letter will be caught.

Nimrod Firstenberg, a former Shin Bet senior official told Ynet that the threat "should be taken seriously. We have the technological and human means to collect information and try to locate the origin of the letter. One can understand according to the hand writing whether the person is eccentric or with an ideological background."

He further noted that the police commissioner will have to change his routine in the coming period. "The commissioner's daily routine will have to be changed. See what his schedule is, with whom he meets. According to intelligence data we'll create a security concept."

He also noted that "there's no reason to panic, this may not happen everyday but it's to be expected and one knows what to do."

Yaakov Turner, a former police commissioner himself, said he does not take lightly such threats but refused to get overly distressed. "The police and Shin Bet reach many places and they'll reach him too. The person behind the threat is bound to make a mistake, if he hadn't done already."

The police spokesman refused to comment.

Naama Lanir contributed to this report