Man Goes on Stabbing Spree in Synagogue

Man Goes on Stabbing Spree in Synagogue

MOSCOW -- A man armed with a knife stabbed several people in a downtown Moscow synagogue Wednesday, with some seriously wounded, officials said.

At least six people were hospitalized in the attack at the Polyakova Synagogue, a duty officer with the Central Moscow district police precinct told The Associated Press.

A secretary at the synagogue who gave her first name as Tatyana told AP that the attacker wounded seven, several seriously. She said she heard people screaming as the man stabbed them, but the man himself was silent.

(IsraelNN.com) Moscow police have arrested Alexander Kopstev, a 20-year-old skinhead, who stabbed at least eight people before evening prayers at a Moscow synagogue Wednesday evening. There were conflicting reports on the number of those seriously injured, but at least three and possibly five were hospitalized in serious condition. Among the wounded was an Israeli citizen.

Also injured was Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, a son-in-law of the synagogue's rabbi who along with his son disarmed the terrorists and tied him up until police came. Eyewitnesses said the attacker yelled, "Heil Hitler" as he attacked the men, who were eating in the kitchen prior to evening prayers. The man, wearing a leather jacket, continued to attack people in offices on the second floor before being stopped.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:43 PM