James Newman, chief of detectives of Kansas City Police Department, today denied a Washington report that a pattern of anti-Jewish terrorism has emerged in Kansas City during the past months, when five bombings or attempted bombings occurred at the homes or businesses of Jewish persons,
“We have no basic facts which connect these various bombings and attempted bombings one with another,” he said. “There is no apparent pattern and any attempt to link them together is not based on the facts as we know them. There is no proven anti-Semitic aspect, and some of the victims of recent similar bombings have been non-Jews.”
The Kansas City office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while keeping close contact with the Police Department, also indicated that they had no evidence to substantiate a charge of anti-Semitic terrorism. They are continuing to follow the bombing cases for any possible violation of Federal laws.
Abe Kaplan, chairman of the Kansas City Jewish Community Relations Bureau, said: “Despite the various coincidences, the Police Department has found no circumstantial fact which would tie the several bombings together. There are many differences in the bombing techniques and differences in the circumstances surrounding the bombings raise questions not having to do with the Jewish factor, which the police are trying to resolve.
“The distorted reports of terrorism are unfounded and reports that the FBI is involved are equally unfounded. The Community Relations Bureau is in contact with the Police Department and has confidence that every resource is being used to solve these bombings and bomb scares,” Mr. Kaplan stated.
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