Sep 27, 2009 8:28 am US/Eastern
NYPD Boosts Security For Temples On Yom Kippur
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
On this Yom Kippur, Jews are focusing on their faith, while New York police officers are concentrating on keeping those inside temple safe.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said the department is taking several precautions. "We have what we call house of worship radio motor patrol cars. They are put in as an overlay security element."
Kelly said despite all the on-going investigations, there have been no specific threats against any specific houses of worship.
Last May, several men allegedly parked car bombs wired to cell phones outside the Riverdale Temple and the nearby Riverdale Jewish center. The suspects, three U.S.-born citizens and one Haitian immigrant, were said to be angry about the deaths of Muslims in Afghanistan.
The suspects are 55-year-old James Cromitie; 28-year-old David
Williams; 32-year-old Onta Williams; and Laguerre Payen, all of
Newburgh. Each were charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass
destruction and conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles.
Prosecutors painted Cromitie as the ring leader of the group, eager to
take credit for the terrorist plot. He allegedly recruited the three
other suspects to help carry out the plan.
Terrorism expert Robert Strang said terrorists tend to use religious holidays to make a big impact and an even bigger statement. "I think clearly if you take a look at history with al Qaeda and other terrorist-related groups, the holy days tend to be a time when they focus on these kinds of things."
Gov. David Paterson announced on May 31 that the Riverdale Temple and
the Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx will each receive $25,000 to
upgrade their security systems. The funds were to come from a federal
program aimed at security for nonprofit organizations.
Paterson also sent a letter to Congress urging that program get more money in fiscal year 2010.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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