RFE/RL - 07.31.02

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Wave of Anti-Semitic Bomb Scares Continues

July 31 - A box bearing an anti-Semitic slogan was found near the entrance of a Moscow maternity hospital on 31 July, Interfax and other Russian news agencies reported. Police sappers were called to the scene, but no explosives were found. 

On 30 July, an anti-Semitic sign with a fake bomb attached to it was found along a highway just outside of Moscow. These incidents are the latest in a series that has swept across Russia since a woman was seriously injured by an exploding sign near Moscow on 27 May.

Bomb Inscribed With Anti-Semitic Slogan Explodes in Moscow

July 29 - A pipe bomb bearing the slogan "Death to Yids" was thrown onto the balcony of an apartment in southwestern Moscow and exploded on 28 July, "Kommersant-Daily" reported the next day. No one was injured in the incident.

Responding to the news, Russia's Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar called on the authorities to take emergency measures -- such as forming a special commission -- to combat anti-Semitic extremism.

However, according to Interfax, Moscow police are not linking the incident with extremism or anti-Semitism; so far, they consider it a case of hooliganism. According to the agency, no Jews live in the particular apartment or in the entire building.