Hundreds of Jewish graves vandalized in Bucharest

The Associated Press BUCHAREST, Romania

Officials say that 200 graves and 100 monuments have been vandalized at a Jewish cemetery in Bucharest. Romanian Jewish community spokesman Paul Schwartz has called it the worst act of vandalism in the nation in recent times. He says the destruction was discovered early Thursday in the Jewish Cemetery in south Bucharest. Police has confirmed the vandalism, and Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu has called for an investigation. The ministry issued a statement saying it "firmly condemns all kinds of manifestations of this kind, as well as other anti-Semitic, xenophobic and racist acts." Romania has a small Jewish population of 6,000, most of them elderly. (KansasCity.com)