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8 Venezuela Police charged In Attack on Caracas Synagogue

By Howard M. Friedman

AP reported last Thursday that in Venezuela prosecutors filed formal charges against eight police officers and three other people in connection with the January attack on Tifaret Israel synagogue in Caracas. Among those charged is the bodyguard for a rabbi and one of the security guards on duty at the synagogue. Prosecutors have asked the court to approve charges of robbery, "acts of contempt against a religion," and concealing firearms. The attackers destroyed religious objects, spray-painted anti-Semitic slogans and took a computer database with the names and addresses of Jews in Venezuela. Police believe that the attackers were looking for cash to steal. The attack took place shortly after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez cut off diplomatic ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza. Chavez has condemned the synagogue attack.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 30, 2009 (boomark / email).