GREECE: Arsonists attack synagogue on Corfu

Record ID: 353133

  • Title: GREECE: Arsonists attack synagogue on Corfu
  • Date: 20th April 2011
  • Summary: CORFU, GREECE (APRIL 19 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE SYNAGOGUE WHICH THE ARSONISTS ATTACKED GENERAL VIEW OF THE SYNAGOGUE THE ARSONISTS ATTACKED MEMBERS OF THE CORFU JEWISH COMMUNITY LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE, WOMAN CRYING AS SHE FINDS OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED PILE OF ASHES WHERE THE ARSONISTS SET THE FIRE USING PRAYER BOOKS MEMBERS OF THE CORFU JEWISH COMMUNITY CHECKING
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece, Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBAX4GFN1CBQI33JDOZOTZ4MX
  • Story Text: Arsonists target synagogue on the Greek island of Corfu as Passover festival starts -- the third arson attack in Greece in less than two years Arsonists set fire to a synagogue on the Greek island of Corfu early on Tuesday (April 19) damaging prayer books but causing no injuries. This was the third such attack in Greece in less than two years.
    The unknown assailants who broke through a back door into the 19th century building made a pile of religious books in front of the rabbi's platform and set them on fire. At least 30 prayer books were damaged in the blaze.
    "Antique books got burned but thankfully the fire did not spread to other places in the synagogue where we keep inscriptions which are from handmade papyrus which are more than 400 years old," said Rafael Sousis, a member of the Jewish community in Corfu.
    Two empty gasoline canisters were found inside, according to a police official.
    The arson attack was staged just as the Passover festival was starting.
    The latest attack has alarmed Greece's 8,000-strong Jewish community, which was decimated after the Nazis deported Jews to concentration camps in eastern Europe during World War II.
    About 150 Jews currently live on Corfu.
    Moses Constantinis, head of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, said they were very worried and hoped the police would act quickly and find the culprits.
    In February last year, Greek police arrested three men suspected of two arson attacks at a medieval synagogue on the island of Crete. The roof of the building and thousands of books and computers were damaged.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register