Terror Continues in the Capital

Hostages said to number between 50-100 and possibly more continued to endure an ordeal of terror for the second day as armed gunmen of the Hanafi Moslems, a break-away Black Muslim sect, held them captive at B’nai B’rith national headquarters, the Islamic Center and the District Building, Washington’s City Hall. As of midday, negotiations between the gunmen and police for the safe release of the hostages appeared to be stalemated.

Meanwhile, Jewish and Black members of Congress are receiving special protection as a result of the Hanafi rampage. Harry Grevey, Captain of the Capitol Police, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “about a dozen” members of Congress requested special protection and they are being escorted by officers at the Capitol and some at their homes. There are five Jewish Senators and 22 Jewish Representatives in Congress. One Senator and 17 House members constitute the Black delegation.

Grevey said that he could not verify a report that non-Jewish hostages were being released at the B’nai B’rith building. But he acknowledged that the report raised “some concern” for Jewish members of Congress. The hostages at the District Building are mostly Black and those at the Islamic Center are Moslems.

The Capitol Police Force consists of about 250 officers. About twice as many as usual were on duty after the crisis broke yesterday and today some 75 more officers than usual were on duty. Days-off were cancelled for the police to provide extra protection at the Capitol.

According to one breakdown, 96 hostages in all are being held–57 at the B’nai B’rith building. 24 at the District Building and 15 at the Islamic Center. But a police spokesman, J.C. Gentil, who is at the B’nai B’rith building, said at noon today that between 50-100 and perhaps 105 B’nai B’rith employes still were hostages. B’nai B’rith national president. David Blumberg, executive director Daniel Thursz and Benjamin Epstein, director of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League, have been in an adjoining building since noon yesterday helping police who are seeking to negotiate with the gunmen.

SUPPORT FOR RELATIVES OF HOSTAGES

Meanwhile, various local agencies. Jewish and non-Jewish, have rallied to help hundreds of relatives of hostages who maintained a vigil throughout the night behind police barricades near each of the sites. Most are relatives of B’nai B’rith employees who include Blacks, Orientals. Protestants and Catholics as well as Jews. Between 40-50 B’nai B’rith relatives were provided with food and beds by the Red Cross in the basement of the Foundry Methodist Church, according to a Red Cross spokesperson at the site.

Hundreds of B’nai B’rith volunteers came forward after news of the crisis spread to help the relatives of hostages. They are keeping in contact with the families of persons still held and those of persons who fled the building, were released or hospitalized for injuries. The national headquarters of the Jewish War Veterans offered the use of their facilities and their synagogue to relatives of the hostages.

The Hebrew Home for the Aged is preparing chicken dinners in its kitchen for delivery to the relatives at the Foundry Church. Jewish Social Service Agency staff personnel were delivering the dinners and providing counseling to the families. Similar services are to continue for the duration of the crisis, the JSSA said. Leaders of that organization and the Greater Washington Jewish Community Council said they would visit the B’nai B’rith site to meet with the relatives and to review what other services can be rendered. Jewish officials praised the Red Cross for being “most cooperative.”

The Hanafi gunmen have made the B’nai B’rith building their headquarters from where their leader, Khalifa Hamaas Abdul Khaalis is directing the terrorist operation at the other two sites. Khaalis, a former jazz drummer, abandoned his career some years ago to become involved in the Black Muslim movement. Four Years ago, seven members of his sect, including five children, were murdered at their home in Washington by a rival Black Muslim sect. The killers were sent to prison. One of the demands made by the gunmen is that they be removed from prison and brought to them for punishment.