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Curfew Still in Force in Jerusalem; Ordered After Assassination of Police Official

October 2, 1944
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The police curfew which had kept the Jewish residents of Jerusalem confined to their homes since four o’clock yesterday afternoon was partially lifted today after being in force 21 hours. It was ordered following the assassination of Assistant Police Superintendent T. J. Wilkins by two unknown men as he was walking to police headquarters here.

All persons were permitted to be on the streets this afternoon between the hours of one and six. As of tomorrow – and until further notice – the curfew will be in effect only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. so as to allow purchases of food and other necessities.

Although there have been no reports at present writing of raids or arrests, the authorities broadcast a special communique warning the inhabitants that this curfew will be enforced more strictly than any previous ones. The last curfew affecting the Jewish quarter of this city was imposed last March after the bombing of police headquarters and was not lifted for about two weeks.

Saturday’s curfew was imposed suddenly and police cars equipped with loud speakers roamed the streets warning all persons to return to their homes and stay there. Armored cars patrolled the Jewish quarter to enforce the edict. Orthodox Jews were prevented from attending synagogue services on the eve of Succoth. The only Jerusalem Jews allowed to leave their homes last night were doctors, nurses, foreign correspondents, bakers and other persons engaged in essential activities.

POLICE CONTINUE HUNT FOR ARMED MEN WHO RAIDED POLICE STATIONS

Meanwhile, the police are also hunting for the bands of armed men who raided four police stations in different parts of Palestine on Wednesday night. An official announcement stated that police dogs picked up the scent of one of the persons who attacked the Qualkilia station and followed it to a point outside the gate of the settlement of Ramath Hakovesh, where it was lost.

Police, accompanied by members of the settlement council entered the colony and conducted inquiries and a search, all of which were fruitless. Ramath Hakovesh was the scene of a clash last November between the colony’s settlers and British police during which one settler was killed and several wounded. The police, accompanied by Polish troops, raided the colony at that time in search for illegal arms.

A warning against the activities of terrorists was issued here today by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, a member of the executive of the Jewish Agency, who has just arrived from the United States. American Jews, Dr. Goldmann said, strongly condemn the outbreaks. Stressing the “moral, human and political harm” caused by the disturbances, he urged that the Jewish community here unanimously condemn the terror and take all measures to curb it.

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