Firebomb Outrage at Connecticut Synagogue: Police Charge Suspect (Guess Who?)

Story #1 . . . November 4, 1999

Synagogue Firebomb Attack Thwarted Two Incendiary Devices Recovered

NORWALK, Conn. (AP) -- Two men attempting to firebomb a synagogue were thwarted when a passersby began blowing his car horn, police said.

Police said a witness saw two white men standing outside Congregation Beth El at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. The witness told police the men appeared ready to throw two incendiary devices at the temple, where people were attending a social event.

Police said the two men dropped their devices and fled the area in a blue car after the witness distracted them by blowing his car horn. No damage occurred. Police recovered the two Molotov cocktails.

Lt. Angela Walsh said police do not know if the incident is connected to an earlier incident of vandalism at the synagogue.

In August, two plastic containers of medical waste marked with swastikas and references to a shooting at a Jewish center in Los Angeles were found outside two synagogues -- Congregation Beth El and another synagogue in Stamford.

Story #2 . . . November 29, 1999

Man Charged With Faking Bias Attack Police Say He Placed Bombs to Gain Favor

By Todd Venezia

NORWALK, Conn. (APBnews.com) -- A 35-year-old man has been charged with faking a bombing at a local synagogue in an apparent effort to curry favor with police.

Police say that Joseph Yellen of Norwalk placed two unlighted Molotov cocktail firebombs on the lawn outside the Temple Beth El in early November, then called in a false report that he had seen two young men throw the devices at the building.

The bomb did not go off, but Yellen's report ignited a small explosion of attention to the alleged hate crime. Police released a sketch of a suspect and a description of the car.

On Friday, police charged Yellen with falsely reporting an incident and breach of peace, both class-B misdemeanors.

Yellen allegedly admitted to police that he left the two Molotov cocktails himself. Investigators allege he got the idea after hearing news reports about vandalism at a cemetery and hoped that serving as a witness to a bias attack would win him favorable treatment in another court case.

This week, Yellen allegedly has denied his confession to police, saying he never admitted his report was a hoax. He could not be reached for comment, but police said they are standing by their charges.

"This case was investigated in full, and we have sufficient information to indicate he did this," said police spokeswoman Lt. Angela Walsh.

Related reading:

• David Copeland
• Index to Arson attacks