A man who made a hoax bomb call to a Leeds synagogue just a few days after the Manchester Yom Kippur attack has been sentenced to 10 months in jail.
Markel Ible called Sinai Synagogue in Roundhay on October 6, claiming to have left a bomb at the premises that would explode the next day. The call came just days after Jihad al-Shamie carried out a terror attack in Manchester that resulted in the death of two Jews.
Crown prosecutors at Leeds Crown Court quickly reviewed the evidence provided by police and charged Ible the following day. Ible pleaded guilty to making a bomb hoax call on October 8.
“Markel Ible was acutely aware of the consequences of his actions, which were intended to sow panic and fear,” said Senior Crown Prosecutor Ann Graham. “The timing of his offence in the wake of the devastating attack in Manchester just days before, makes it all the more disturbing.
“Working closely with the police, we were able to charge Ible and secure a guilty plea within a matter of days. We hope this sends a clear message that the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] will always seek to prosecute those who spread hatred and antisemitism, in the strongest possible terms.”
Dave Rich, director of policy for Community Security Trust, which provides security at Jewish institutions across the UK, praised the CPS for handling the “appalling incident with the seriousness it deserves.”
Not just reckless, it was cruel and calculated
“Ible’s hoax call was not just reckless, it was cruel and calculated, coming just days after the fatal terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.
“The hoax call was designed to spread panic and distress at a time when the community was already feeling vulnerable. It is essential to send out a strong message that this kind of anti-Jewish hate will not be allowed, and we are grateful to the police and the CPS for their swift response.”