Sydney Jewish schools increase security after threatening letter

Marcy Oster

SYDNEY (JTA) — Jewish day schools in Sydney increased security after a letter threatening violence against them was received at a police station in western Sydney.

Local radio station 2GB broadcast the contents of the letter with announcer Ray Hadley telling listeners that the letter contained “threats of violence against non-Muslims, particularly Jewish schools and police stations.”

Hadley said that the letter warns “that thousands will die” and contained a photo of an Islamic State fighter with “an array of severed heads in front of him.”

New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff told JTA: “We have been advised that this unconfirmed threat is general in nature and not cause for any changed security arrangements. Our schools are operating as normal.”

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“We are in regular contact with the NSW police and continue to take their advice in relation to this matter,” he added.

But security reportedly was increased, with members of the Community Security Group, a volunteer organization which oversees Jewish community’s security and emergency management programs, being dispatched to the schools as a precautionary measure.

A letter sent from the schools stated: “Our school is operating as normal. We have, however, as a precautionary measure, increased security with the Community Security Group presence at our school and continue to receive advice from authorities and CSG in relation to this.”

There are five Jewish day schools in Sydney and armed guards are part of their regular security.

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