Santa Monica, CA – FBI: Chabad Synagogue Bombing Suspect Fled To New York

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    This undated booking photo provided by the Santa Monica Police Department shows Ron Hirsh, 60, who is wanted by the Santa Monica Police Department in connection with an explosion outside the Chabad House, a synagogue, in Santa Monica  on Thursday, April 7, 2011. The blast first thought to be an industrial accident outside a synagogue and community center was caused by a homemade explosive device. Hirsch is currently being sought on state charges of possession of a destructive device and unrelated local charges. (AP Photo/Santa Monica Police Department)Santa Monica, CA – A suspect in the explosion outside a Santa Monica synagogue is believed to have left Southern California.

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    The FBI said Monday that 60-year-old Ron Hirsch purchased a Greyhound bus ticket to New York and may have boarded the bus on the day of Thursday’s blast. Video surveillance indicates that he got off in Denver.

    Hirsch, a transient known to spend time at synagogues and other Jewish centers seeking charity, is believed to have family in New York.

    Authorities initially thought the blast, which sent a pipe and chunks of concrete into a house next to the Chabad (huh-BAHD’) House Lubavitch (LOO-bah-vich) of Santa Monica, was an industrial accident.

    They now believe the device was deliberately constructed. Items found at the scene were linked to Hirsch.


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    13 years ago

    Sometimes Chabad is very lax in providing for the security of their law abiding daveners by allowing and even encouraging all sorts of crimminals to attend minyomin.

    13 years ago

    All this fellow has to do to fit into any shul is put on a black hat.

    13 years ago

    It is not just Chabad; most Shuls have very lax security, and don’t screen people who come in. The same is true for some JCC’s, and other Jewish organizations. In 1977, a number of criminals from the Hanafi Muslim sect took over the offices of B’nai Brith in D.C., and pistol whipped, and held hostage a number of staff members. The siege went on for several days, before it ended without further bloodshed. However, there were attacks at the JCC in L.A., in 1999, and at the Federation in Seattle several years ago; an Arab shot up the Federation, and killed a Jewish woman. He was sentenced to life. In the L.A. incident, a Nazi also shot and wounded several staff, as well as a child. Jewish houses of worship and organizations must hired guards to protect such institutions. The guards at the Holocaust museum were able to stop an armed Nazi, nearly two years ago (after he killed a guard).

    lbpss
    lbpss
    13 years ago

    I was in chabad in hungary and there was a security guard by the door. Which shul has security guards.

    Voice-of-Reason
    Voice-of-Reason
    13 years ago

    Looks like Yushke.