Tulsa World: Police work to find who's behind Jewish center bomb scare

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Police work to find who's behind Jewish center bomb scare
A Kansas group that picketed Jews on Wednesday is investigated.

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 7/16/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 7/16/2009 3:39 AM

Police are sorting through accounts of a bomb scare that caused the evacuation of a Tulsa Jewish retirement center and nearby facilities and are trying to pinpoint who is behind the threat, authorities said Wednesday.

"We're looking at the possibility of it being a hate crime," Officer Jason Willingham said.

"You can't dismiss any particular motive or any particular person before you know for sure."

Because a Topeka, Kan., group showed up Wednesday to picket against Jews outside the Zarrow Campus, 2025 E. 71st St., where the retirement center and other Jewish institutions are located, police are investigating whether its members could have been behind Tuesday's bomb scare.

No evidence has implicated the group, known as the Westboro Baptist Church, in the hoax, he said.

The group's members aren't known for initiating physical violence, and their involvement is typically limited to demonstrations, he noted.

The Westboro demonstrators, who routinely picket gay pride events and funerals of U.S. soldiers, hoisted signs during a noontime protest on the sidewalk outside the campus, said David Bernstein, community relations director for the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

The rally was small and lasted only about 30 minutes, Bernstein said. Some of the signs were covered with anti-Jewish slogans and blamed Jews for the death of Jesus Christ.

"That kind of thing Jewish people are used to," Bernstein said. "We didn't pay them any mind."

Dozens of

children and residents of the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center were taken to safety Tuesday afternoon after an employee heard a ticking noise coming from a paper-filled trash can.

A bomb squad recovered a device that was found to be a harmless household clock, Sgt. Jim Clark said.

Technicians at the Police Department's fingerprint lab will analyze the device and try to determine where it came from and who put it in the trash can, Willingham said.

An anonymous caller had phoned in a bomb threat earlier in the afternoon Tuesday.

Meanwhile, workers at the Zarrow Campus are trying to put the scare behind them, Bernstein said.

Administrators met about employees' response to the threat and hired an off-duty police officer Wednesday to patrol the campus through the rest of the week, Bernstein said.

"We're hoping it will be very calm from here on through, and we hope that police will find whoever made the call," he said.

Police are reinterviewing workers at the retirement center in hopes of learning more about the events leading up to the threat.

No witnesses have reported seeing who planted the device, Willingham said.

Matt Barnard 581-8408
matt.barnard@tulsaworld.com By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa Police investigating bomb threat, 'hoax device' ," which was published on 7/15/2009.

	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (7/15/2009 5:20:08 PM) Good question, waterloo. What were those protestors protesting? Do they not have jobs? I thought the city required a permit to have a group of people to protest? There are people that have way too much free time on their hands.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (7/15/2009 1:37:59 PM) ... Sad part is, a lot of non-Jewish people use the facility and have loved ones who retire there. ... So, what was the point of the hoax? Was it a racist statement? A disgruntled current or ex-employee? Or, just an other wacky Oklahoman starved for meda attention? ... .. .
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (7/16/2009 9:00:25 AM) ... Somebody needs to invoke a golem unto the folks at Westboro Baptist Church. ... .. .
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (7/15/2009 1:25:40 PM) I hope the find out who did it and throw the book at em.
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (7/15/2009 1:47:04 PM) Eric, Sadly I think it was another wacky Oklahoman starved for media attention.
	Report Comment Fred, Tulsa (7/16/2009 10:15:18 AM) When ever I see those Westboro Freaks I think they as a group are the finest argument for Birth Control that I have ever seen.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (7/15/2009 1:15:29 PM) Did they call it in? Use caller I.D. and pick em' up.
	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (7/15/2009 7:49:17 PM) Yeah, waterloo, I wonder who they were as well. Oh, ddbbtl, STOP YELLING! We can hear you just fine in regular font.
	Report Comment M_Sizzle, Tulsa (7/16/2009 11:13:33 AM) Why are these people protesting?
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (7/15/2009 3:15:53 PM) I saw about four people with signs on 71st somewhere the other day, but i can't really recall where,and i really could'nt read the signs. I have visited the Sherwin Miller museum on several occasions. Those hoaxers and protestors can kiss my tuchus!
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (7/15/2009 3:52:03 PM) Arby LOL yes Sherwin Williams is the paint store.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (7/15/2009 5:36:56 PM) Mikdoob check Eric's personel page and your question will be answered.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (7/15/2009 8:04:19 PM) That Topeka bunch...i should've known. Does that whole Wizard of Oz thing tick them off just cuz they're from Kansas? They should follow the Yellow Brick road back to Kansas,Tulsa does'nt want them here!
	Report Comment AdMan, (7/15/2009 12:49:32 PM) Anyone see the protesters out there today? Crazy!
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/15/2009 1:04:32 PM) What next? Some people are getting out of control.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/15/2009 2:03:33 PM) Eric, I was thinking the sames thing about your reference to a lot of non-jewish people that are using the campus. That is so true, especially with the camps going on.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/15/2009 3:27:04 PM) Hey rockfan, maybe next time you visit the Museum, at least note the name please, it is not a paint store.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/15/2009 3:56:14 PM) LOL rockfan. Blame it on the heat.
	Report Comment Bedazzled, (7/15/2009 9:54:57 PM) It doesn't make any sense, so many churches and so much crime and so many sick people all in Oklahoma.
	Report Comment ddbbtl, (7/15/2009 5:11:13 PM) WAS THIS A HOAX OR JUST ANOTHER OF THE CITY'S DRILLS INVOLVING INNOCENT CITIZENS? THIS PRACTICE SHOULD STOP AS WELL AS MAKING WELL PEOPLE ILL. I CANNOT TRAVEL AROUND TULSA OR SAPULPA WITHOUT SEEING AMBULANCES, POLICE, SHERIFF CARS AROUND. EITHER THEY ARE DRILLS OR MY BEING HARASSED.... AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS SORT OF THING WAS PREVALENT AROUND TIME OF 9-11
	Report Comment Mel76, (7/15/2009 1:13:13 PM) Anti-Semitism in Tulsa...not surprising with this States history of racism. However, what are they planning to do about it, because where I'm from some action would be taken to at least get those people off the street with their signs. What a shame...we haven't grown much as a nation when it comes to racial tolerance and acceptance. Hopefully nothing worst materializes out of this.
	Report Comment Bubba in Glenpool, (7/15/2009 4:38:54 PM) Those people out there today and the person/people that planted the fake bomb are a disgrace to themselves and our entire species. Need they go down the street a few miles and visit the OKC Bombing Memorial. Killing kids is never an acceptable practice. Intimidating people because their parents were of a different race than your parents is ridiculous, like they got to choose who their parents were! Complete idiots in the 21st century living among us!
	Report Comment Bubba in Glenpool, (7/15/2009 4:41:30 PM) MikDoob...before you take my comments out of context like Erics, I don't condone the killing of adults either, except for just cause and racism of any kind is unacceptable and flat out ignorant.
	Report Comment FromTheHeart, (7/15/2009 1:06:17 PM) The Schusterman Family is so generous to this community. We are fortunate they have chosen Tulsa as home.
	Report Comment MikDoob, (7/15/2009 4:34:43 PM) Hey Eric: Are you saying it would be fine if it was just Jewish people in there but sad because "alot of non-Jewish people use the facility". Are you an anti-semite yourself Eric? Just wonderin'. "Proud to be an Okie......." WOW.

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