Community on alert after US threat
THE official alert level of the Australian Jewish community remains unchanged, despite the recent discovery overseas of two separate sets of parcel bombs addressed to American synagogues.
THE official alert level of the Australian Jewish community remains unchanged, despite the recent discovery overseas of two separate sets of parcel bombs addressed to American synagogues.
Two packages containing explosives, believed to have been sent by al- Qaeda operatives in Yemen, were intercepted by authorities in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates at the weekend.
Intelligence agencies are unsure whether they were intended to explode mid-air or if they were destined for the Chicago synagogues they were mailed to.
Sydney-based Communal Security Group (CSG) spokesperson David Rothman said the threat to the Jewish community in NSW remains high. However, the group has not increased protection beyond current levels.
“The incident, involving powerful explosives disguised in packages for delivery to Jewish institutions in the US, has not changed the alert level in Australia,” he said.
“This incident is a reminder that the Jewish community remains a primary target for attack, and institutions should remain alert for all possible threats.
“The CSG continues to work with NSW Police and institutions to ensure appropriate procedures are in place.”
In Melbourne, Community Security Group director Amit Bar Giora echoed the warning.
“The incident involving the detection of explosive devices sent from Yemen to synagogues¬† in the US serves as a reminder that Jewish installations around the world are still considered to be preferred targets in the eyes of terrorists,” he said.
“The CSG constantly ensures that the community is aware of the relevant and most recent [events] and has used this incident to refresh the Jewish organisations on security measures that should be carried out in relation to receiving mail and packages.”
On Sunday, Sydney’s CSG distributed a flyer to Jewish communal organisations outlining the details of the Yemenite packages and advising how to deal with suspicious mail.
In a press conference on October 30, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said transport security officials would be screening all cargo coming from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha.
“There are no direct flights from Yemen to Australia, so any cargo that originated in Yemen would come through one of those three locations and there will be 100 per cent screening as a response,” she said.
GARETH NARUNSKY AND JOSHUA LEVI
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