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Venezuela synagogue suspects held | Venezuela synagogue suspects held |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Eleven people - including seven police officers - have been arrested over the ransacking of a synagogue in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. | Eleven people - including seven police officers - have been arrested over the ransacking of a synagogue in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. |
Armed men broke into the building last week and daubed slogans including "Jews get out" on the walls before destroying religious objects. | Armed men broke into the building last week and daubed slogans including "Jews get out" on the walls before destroying religious objects. |
Critics of President Hugo Chavez have accused him of stoking anti-Semitism by pursuing anti-Israeli foreign policies. | Critics of President Hugo Chavez have accused him of stoking anti-Semitism by pursuing anti-Israeli foreign policies. |
But Mr Chavez condemned the attack and promised to find those responsible. | But Mr Chavez condemned the attack and promised to find those responsible. |
At least one of those arrested was reported to be a security guard working at the synagogue. | |
Elias Farache, president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, welcomed the arrests. | Elias Farache, president of Venezuela's Jewish Association, welcomed the arrests. |
"We thank the authorities for the quick detention of the suspects," he told the Associated Press. | "We thank the authorities for the quick detention of the suspects," he told the Associated Press. |
"We also want to thank all of those who showed their solidarity with us." | "We also want to thank all of those who showed their solidarity with us." |
Earlier, Mr Farache said the gang had tied and gagged security guards before destroying offices and the place where holy books were kept. | Earlier, Mr Farache said the gang had tied and gagged security guards before destroying offices and the place where holy books were kept. |
Jewish leaders say tensions have been rising since Venezuela broke diplomatic ties with Israel last month over its military offensive in Gaza. | Jewish leaders say tensions have been rising since Venezuela broke diplomatic ties with Israel last month over its military offensive in Gaza. |
The ambassador to Venezuela and his staff were ordered to leave the country on 6 January, and Mr Chavez has urged Israelis to stand up against their government. | |
Israel responded by ordering Venezuelan diplomats to leave, declaring them "persona non grata in Israel". | Israel responded by ordering Venezuelan diplomats to leave, declaring them "persona non grata in Israel". |
But Venezuelan ministers have been quick to deny any connection between the diplomatic spat with Israel and the synagogue attack. | |
Information Minister Jesse Chacon said the government's "excellent relationship" with Venezuela's Jewish community was in no way affected by Israel's actions. | Information Minister Jesse Chacon said the government's "excellent relationship" with Venezuela's Jewish community was in no way affected by Israel's actions. |
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