Anti-jewish Riots in Egypt; Synagogues Burned in Cairo; Six Killed in Alexandria

Bands of fanatical young Arabs, estimated at over (##),000, sacked and fired two synagogues here today and looted Jewish shops, as Arabs marked the 28th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration by strikes and demonstration throughout the Middle East. Over 300 were arrested.

The demonstrators drove through the city on street-cars and in automobiles shouting “Death to the Jews” and other anti-Jewish slogans. The rioting began after students marched through the streets in an anti-Zionist protest demonstration. Police fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the rioters and British military police jeeps equipped with loud-speakers called on all Allied troops to return to their barrecks. British army trucks and a club for New Zealand servicemen were also attacked.

Two large Jewish department stores in downtown Cairo were first stoned and then looted. This correspondent saw young Egyptians come out of the stores dragging rolls of wool, with shoes, towels, stockings and other items bulging from their pockets, The looters were mostly young boys ranging from eight years to twenty. In many cases, Egyptian police carrying guns and sticks merely stood by and watched or turned their backs.

The synagogue in the Jewish quarter of the Al Azhar district was burned down and holy books thrown onto a bonfire. Private homes were also ransacked. First reports from local police said that 250 to 300 persons had received gunshot wounds during the ricts. Sketchy reports from Alexandria say that police and ricters there also elashed. Six persons are reported to have been killed and shops were looted.

In the midst of the disturbances, representatives of five Arab groups presented a note to all foreign diplomats, which said: “We beg to inform your country that all the Arab world is starting today this active struggle against the Zionists who threaten the Arab world by their existence in Palestine.”