May 21, 2009 8:17 pm US/Eastern
Riverdale Shaken After Being In The Crosshairs
Resident Tells CBS 2 HD: "I Still Don't Understand Such Hate"; Local Leaders Set Up Interfaith Ceremony
By JOHN METAXAS, CBS 2 HD News
RIVERDALE (CBS) ―
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James Cromitie, one of four men arrested in alleged plot to bomb Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx section of New York and a US Air National Guard Base on May 20, 2009.
AP
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David Williams, one of four men arrested in alleged plot to bomb Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx section of New York and a US Air National Guard Base on May 20, 2009.
AP
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Onta Williams, one of four men arrested in alleged plot to bomb Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx section of New York and a US Air National Guard Base on May 20, 2009.
AP
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NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg briefs the media on a thwarted terror plot targeting a Jewish temple in New York City on May 21, 2009.
CBS
The communities targeted in the New York City terror plot are grateful for the fast-action taken to stop it. In Riverdale, Jewish leaders are trying to restore a sense of safety.
The NYPD insists that no one was ever in any danger from this terror plot, but, still, many people were frightened Thursday at the violence that was threatened.
Police presence was elevated along Independence Avenue Thursday, the day after the daring raid that thwarted the terror plot against two synagogues, as neighborhood residents came to grips with the violence that could have been.
"It's terrifying. You just feel that your whole ground that you're standing on is just shaking now," said "Rachel," a Riverdale resident.
"Yes, there is shock," added David Winter, the executive director of the Riverdale Jewish Center. "We were concerned, but the bottom line is we were protected."
Governor David Paterson met with the rabbi at the Reformed Riverdale Temple, and praised the quick response by police.
"This was a miraculous effort by law enforcement to not only apprehend these suspects but allow the plot to play out enough that there was a very strong evidence for conviction," Paterson said.
Police insist that the explosives the suspects got their hands on were inert.
Rabbi Judith Lewis was in the building as the action unfolded and was told something was going on, but was not given any details by police.
"I still had no idea what had happened. It wasn't until on my way home on the George Washington Bridge that I turned on the radio," Lewis said.
On Thursday, despite the police presence and the attempted return to normalcy, some nerves remained jagged.
"I think they should have cameras all over the place now because we are living in this crazy world now," resident Ellen Kasper said. "It's not safe to walk on the street."
"I still don't understand such hate. I still can't get it through my head that there is such hate in this world," resident Judy Sonnett added.
On Friday morning an interfaith ceremony will be held here at the Riverdale Jewish Center to express solidarity with the community and gratitude to law enforcement agencies for a job well done.
Leaders at the Riverdale temple sent out an e-mail update to its members on Thursday, assuring them no one who attends events, classes or services there was ever in danger.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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