Posted on 03/20/2008 4:50:54 PM PDT by LSUfan
PROVIDENCE - A $10,000 reward has been offered for anyone who has information that leads to the arrest and conviction in an apparent fire bomb attack against an emissary for a Jewish group at Brown University.
The Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, the Brown/Rhode Island School of Design Hillel Foundation, and the Anti-Defamation League announced the reward at a news conference Monday.
Police said someone threw two Molotov cocktails at Yossi Knafo's off-campus apartment early Saturday morning.
One exploded on the side of the building. The other failed to ignite.
"A despicable act of violence which most of us in this room couldn't even begin to understand," said Herbert Stern of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island.
Police said they don't have any information to suggest the incident was a hate crime or a terrorist act.
"We really want to bring the temperature down because there's been a lot of speculation throughout the community about what this is and what this isn't," said Deputy Chief Paul Kennedy of the Providence Police Department.
Knafo is an emissary for the Jewish Agency for Israel, a group that promotes Jewish culture through educational and religious programs. He's currently working with the Brown/Rhode Island School of Design Hillel Foundation.
Police said they would increase their patrols in marked and unmarked cars around the area. Both Brown University and local Jewish groups said they are also beefing up security.
"We've enhanced security at various locations such as Brown Hillel and a few other places just in the aftermath of this incident," said Michael Chapman of Brown University.
Said Stephen Silberfarb of the Rhode Island Jewish Federation: "We're treating this very seriously. While we can't draw specific conclusions about motivation, common sense would dictate that we take appropriate precautions."
Police said they are advising Jewish organizations to spread awareness among their congregations.
Knafo has since moved out of the apartment and Brown said it is working to provide support for him.
http://media.www.browndailyherald.com/media/storage/paper472/news/2008/03/20/Metro/Molotovs.Thrown.At.Former.Synagogue-3276968.shtml
I hope they catch the fool that is behind this....Thank goodness nobody was injured or killed...
Had this happened to gays, women or muslims, Brown University would be screaming bloody murder along with the media. Jews, welcome to the persecuted class. White males have been here for some years now.
There was also a February 15th beating of a student in Philly just outside what had been a Jewish fraternity house. Anti-semitic words where yelled during the attack. See http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/15465/
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