Two of three members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL)–charged in a Brooklyn Federal District Court with operating a criminal enterprise which masterminded six bomb and grenade attacks in this area–were released on $1 million bonds Monday. A third JDL member was released on her own recognizance following the arrests Friday.
FBI agents arrested Victor Vancier, alias Chaim Ben Yosef, 30, of Queens; Jay Cohen, 23, of Queens; and Sharon Katz, 44, of Manhattan. They are charged with organizing and carrying out six incidents of fire-bombings and “terrorist” acts against Soviet diplomatic premises, visiting Soviet performers and against other Jewish Defense factions in the metropolitan areas.
Family members co-signed the million-dollar bonds for Vancier and Cohen and could forfeit their homes if the defendants do not appear for court dates. The court also ordered Cohen’s travel limited to trips to and from work and Vancier must inform court officials each time he wants to leave his house.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rose said he expects a grand jury to indict the three in the near future. The accused will not enter pleas until the indictments are handed up.
Among the “terrorist” activities the three allegedly carried out were: The 1984 fire-bombing of a car in the Soviet Mission compound in Riverdale, NY, the 1985 and 1986 pipe bombings of cars in Howard Beach owned by members of rival Jewish defense groups; a 1986 firebombing at Avery Fisher Hall on the night of a performance on the Soviet State Symphony; and the tear-gas bombing at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan September 1986 during a Moiseyev Dance Company performance. Twenty people were injured in the latter attack.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
