Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Wire Service: AP
On August 23, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "French investigators said Monday they were skeptical about claims of responsibility for an arson attack on a Jewish community center by a previously unknown Islamic group. Still, investigators said they are not ruling out any suspects in the fire early Sunday at a Jewish meeting place and soup kitchen in eastern Paris. No one was hurt. When the smoke cleared, police found anti-Semitic graffiti and swastikas scrawled in red marker. One message read, 'Without the Jews, the world is happy,' while another said, 'Jews get out.' Investigators are studying a claim of responsibility by Jamaat Ansar Al-Jihad, officials close to the inquiry said on condition of anonymity. The group issued a claim of responsibility Sunday night on a Web site known for militant Islamic comment... But investigators said they doubted the claim because they did not believe a small neighborhood community center would have drawn attention from international militant groups."