Police are investigating vandalism at Edmonton’s oldest synagogue, where a swastika and anti-Semitic graffiti was written just minutes before a visit by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
Shortly before Stelmach arrived at Beth Israel Synagogue for its 100th anniversary celebrations, an unidentified culprit used a black marker pen to draw a swastika and scrawl ”This means not welcome – get out” on the outside wooden doors.
A quick cleanup job, however, prevented it from affecting the celebrations, which included a gala dinner attending by local dignitaries.
The recent act of vandalism comes seven years after the same synagogue was attacked with Molotov cocktails. A 21-year-old Palestinian immigrant from Lebanon later turned himself into police.
Coincidence? Unlikely.