U.S. police suspect Jewish doctor planned to bomb Islamic centers

Published August 24th, 2002 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

A Jewish podiatrist who allegedly wanted to destroy mosques and other Muslim centers in the U.S. had so many explosives in his home that he could have accidentally destroyed the 200-unit townhouse complex where he lives, police said.  

 

Dr. Robert J. Goldstein planned to use guns and the explosives to destroy an Islamic education center and dozens of mosques, prosecutors said, according to AP.  

 

"If one of those bombs were to have gone off, that townhouse would have been destroyed," ATF Special Agent Carlos Baixauli said. "If the others exploded, we would have lost most of that townhouse complex."  

 

Goldstein, 37, was detained and charged Friday with possession of a non-registered destructive device and attempting to use an explosive to damage and destroy Islamic centers. Goldstein was being held Saturday without bond.  

 

Deputies found a typed list of approximately 50 Islamic places of worship in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area during a search of Goldstein's Seminole home, prosecutors said.  

 

Police were first called to Goldstein's house before dawn Friday after the man's mother contacted them and asked that they make a safety check. Goldstein's wife, Kristi, said her husband was threatening to kill her, according to an affidavit. (Albawaba.com) 

 

© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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