At least 34 persons, including many Jews, are dead and 42 seriously injured as a result of yesterday’s pogrom in Kielce, the worst anti-Jewish outbreak since the liberation of Poland, according to official figures released here today.
The authorities announced that 63 persons have been arrested for participation in the riots and arrests are continuing. Units of the government’s militia are patrolling the Jewish sections of Kielce to prevent repetition of yesterday’s attacks, which saw Jews assaulted on the streets, in their homes, in railway coaches and street cars and in the headquarters of the Jewish community.
A one-hour country-wide strike, originally called to protest the British attacks on the Jews of Palestine, developed today into a mass protest against the Kielce events and the continued attacks on Jews throughout Poland.
The outbreak arose as a result of the traditional rumors that Jews were kidnapping non-Jewish children. A Polish youngster who was detained overnight by a Pole was instructed by the latter to inform his parents that he had been hold by Jews. When the boy told his story, angry crowds gathered before an apartment house in which Jews reside and shouting “Long Live Gen. Anders,” attempted to break in. They were finally dispersed by police and troops, many of whom were killed.
A government spokesman charged that persons responsible for the Kielce pogrom were members of the NSZ, anti-government fascist band, which is believed to be behind most of the anti-Semitic outbreaks which have occurred in the past year.
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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.
