The real story here…
…is that Chabad did not have a security system in place – and this almost two months after Mumbai.
Chabad.info reports:
Tuesday, there was a huge police presence following threats that were made against the community on a Muslim blog • This morning, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly made a phone call to Chanina Sperlin from the inauguration ceremony in Washington DC, to discuss threats against 770 • Last week, the Department of Homeland Security sponsored the installation of security systems in and around 770 .
Along with the expected stir Inauguration day caused across the nation on Tuesday morning, Crown Heights residents saw a tremendous visible police presence following threats that were made against the community on a Muslim blog. This morning, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly made a phone call to Chanina Sperlin, vice president of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council from the inauguration ceremony in Washington DC, to discuss threats against 770.
The Commissioner is looking into the situation," said Sperlin, "The Crown Heights community was considered a target in the past, and whether or not this is serious remains to be seen." Sperlin also received phone calls from members of the joint terrorism task force and FBI, who assured him that the community does not have to worry, the FBI and NYPD are working together to ensure a major security presence is located in and around Crown Heights.
The site, www.revolutionmuslim.com which featured the threat is run by Yousef Al-Khattab, a New York City cab driver who operates the extremist Islamic anti-American Web site that features violent images on a daily basis: From the Statue of Liberty, with an ax blade cutting through her side; to a video mocking the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl, entitled “Daniel Pearl I am Happy Your Dead “; or the latest speech from Sheikh Abdullah Faisal, an extremist Muslim cleric convicted in the UK and later deported for soliciting the murder of non-Muslims.
The latest - a cartoon-like image depicting 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch World Headquarters, as a target in retaliation for Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
Formerly known as Joseph Cohen, al-Khattab is an American-born Jew who converted to Islam after attending an Orthodox Rabbinical school, which he later described as a “racist cult.”
The 39-year-old New York taxi driver launched RevolutionMuslim.com with the mission of “preserving Islamic culture,” “calling people to the oneness of G-d” and asking them to “support the beloved Sheik Abdullah Faisal, who’s preaching the religion of Islam and serving as a spiritual guide.”
A mobile command center was be stationed in front of 770, and many more cops are being sent to patrol the neighborhood streets.
Alert blogger notifies authorities
According to the TheCoolJew, a Lubavitcher blogger, he got an e-mail from Devorah who runs the blog ShiratDevorah. "She sent us a link to a post she found about a Muslim who wants to attack 770". The blogger took this very seriously and forwarded the E-mail to the proper authorities.
Security Systems Installed in 770
Unrelated to this specific threat, work to install security systems in and around 770, was commenced last week. The security systems, sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security includes many high tech video cameras, and other systems which Chabad.info was told not to publish for obvious reasons.
In the first stage of the new initiative to revamp security at 770, consultants, including representatives of the F.B.I. as well as a group from the Israeli embassy surveyed the perimeter of 770, and produced a proposal for measures to be taken to further secure the building.
Four cameras have already been installed in different spots around the building.
Millions of dollars in revenue. Thousands of employees. No security system. Pathetic.
[Hat Tip: Yoel B.]