Britain's Jewish community on high alert
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Lianne Kolirin, Jerusalem Post correspondent, THE JERUSALEM POST Jul. 7, 2005--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Britain's Jewish community is on high alert after London was besieged by a string of terrorist attacks this morning.
Leading community figures are thought to be formulating an emergency security strategy, but insiders are remaining tight-lipped.
Mike Whine, of the Community Security Trust (CST), said, "We are still getting all the details through and an assessment of the situation is being made.
"The Jewish Emergency Support Service, a bereavement organization established to cope with major incidents, is up and working, but has not had to do anything so far."
He added, "We have advised the Jewish community to go about its business as normal, but to be extra vigilant.
"There are extra security measures being put in place from today, but people should carry on with their lives."
Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Israel's Ambassador to London, Zvi Hefetz, were due to attend a conference at a hotel near Liverpool Street Station – where one of the blasts occurred.
The explosion took place near the Great Eastern Hotel, where Netanyahu was due to attend the fourth Israel Opportunity Conference.
There were reports on Israel Radio that Scotland Yard had received early warnings of an imminent terrorist attack, and had shared details of these warnings with the Israeli Embassy in London.
However, staff at the Israeli Embassy have flatly denied the claim.
A spokesman said, "We were informed like everybody else, after the explosions. We were holding a conference, but after the police came to inform us of what had happened we took the appropriate action and decided not to continue with the conference."
The spokesman said the embassy was operating normally, and added, "We are horrified by the callous terror attacks in London this morning. Our thoughts are with the people of London and the families of those affected.
"For anyone concerned about Israeli family or friends, contact the Embassy Emergency Telephone Number: +44 207 957 9581 / 9582."
The head office of Britain's Jewish student movement, UJS Hillel, is less than half a kilometer from where one of the blasts ripped through a double-decker bus.
Hillel House is based in Endsleigh Street in Central London, which is just around the corner from Tavistock Square.
Gerry Lucas, operations director for UJS Hillel, said, "There was an enormous explosion that we heard in this office. We are less than 400 meters from the site of the explosion. Thankfully nobody from our office was affected.
"It was very loud and one of our colleagues went to investigate and saw the bus with all the distressing scenes that people in Israel are unfortunately very used to."
The building, which usually has about 35 people working in it, was almost empty at the time. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) is currently on a trip to Israel, so there was only a skeleton staff of six people around.
Workers were unable to leave the scene due to the work being carried out by forensic officers. Police have also requested that UJS Hillel hand over all their CCTV footage to aid the investigation into the attacks.
Following the explosions this morning, the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks issued a heartfelt statement.
He said, "These terrible events have brought home to us the full evil that terror represents. It is not the weapon of the weak against the strong but the rage of the angry against the defenseless and innocent. It is an evil means to an evil end.
"I will be asking all our congregations to say special prayers for the victims and their families this Sabbath. We grieve for the dead, pray for the injured and share our tears with the bereaved."
JP.com