Prague Jews prepare for Sukkot under heavy security

Security at Czech capital’s streets, Jewish sites beefed up following report on Islamic extremists’ plot to kidnap, murder dozens of Jews in synagogue; Chabad rabbi: Jewish communities in Europe used to threats and actions against them; now it has reached us

Dana Weiss

Tensions are running high among members of the Jewish community in Prague on the eve of the Sukkot holiday, this following the publication of the report on an Islamic extremists’ plot to kidnap dozens of Jews in Prague and hold them hostage before murdering them.

“Unfortunately, the Jewish communities in Europe are used to threats and actions as well,” Rabbi Manis Barash, head of the Chabad center in Prague said in an interview with Ynet. “Now it has reached us.”

The Czech Republic's leading newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes quoted unidentified sources close to intelligence agencies as saying the captives would have been held in a Prague synagogue while the captors made broad demands that they knew could not be fulfilled.

When those demands - which were not specified by the sources - were not met, the extremists would blow up the building, killing all who were inside, the paper added. The paper, which gave other few details, did not say whether any arrests were made and did not specify the identities of the extremists.

The target, according to the report, was the Great Synagogue in the Czech capital.

“Until about two weeks ago we felt safe, because there are always security guards near the synagogue,” Rabbi Barash told Ynet. “But the feeling will be different from now on; we still walk on the streets, but on this holiday we are naturally more fearful and suspicious.”

'They are taking the alerts very seriously'

In the past few weeks the terror alert was felt throughout the Czech capital – in the Jewish Quarter, a popular destination for tourists from Israel and all over the world, in the airport area and other parts of the city.

Since Rosh Hashana armed police officers have been patrolling the streets and questioning tourists and locals.

Israeli officials are following the developments in Prague closely. The embassy has contacted leaders of the local Jewish community and recommended that they boost security.

“They are taking the alerts very seriously, and security around the (Israeli) embassy has been beefed up,” a Prague Jewish community member told Ynet.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mark Regev said, “We are aware of the existence of extremist groups in the European continent that wish to harm Israeli representatives and local Jewish communities. There was a similar incident just recently in Norway. The Israeli consulates and embassies abroad are taking the necessary measures.”

In accordance with Prague police recommendations, security around the Great Synagogue has been heightened.

Local Jews said they hope the terror alert will not deter people from visiting the sukkah at the synagogue.