A powerful explosion ripped through the Temple Israel synagogue early yesterday. No one was in it when the explosion occurred, just hours before President Marais Vilioen was scheduled to attend ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of Reform Judaism in South Africa.
Viljoen was to have attended the ceremonies along with the Israeli Ambassador, the Mayor of Johannesburg and the administrator of Transvaal Province. The service was held at another synagogue.
Police launched an investigation of the incident, but Col. Frank Bull of the Johannesburg police said it could not be immediately determined “if there was a bomb, either inside or outside the building.”
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