TJN: A security alert was issued to synagogues and Jewish organisations this week after hate mail with razor blades were sent to addresses in Cambridge and London.In recent days, mail was sent to the synagogue in Cambridge and two to members of that community, whose telephone numbers were featured on the shul�s website. Another letter was sent to a leading Jewish organisation in London.

The Community Security Trust�s Chief Executive Richard Benson, in a letter to the community, said the blades had been inserted in a way with the potential to cause injury. He urged orgabisations to handle all mail �with extreme caution� and to use a letter knife when opening envelopes or parcels. He added: �This is one of the main reasons we try to limit the amont of information which is attached to synagogue, school and organisation websites.�

Police in Barnet yesterday confirmed that one of the packages had been received in the Borough and that officers were liaising with their counterparts in Cambridge.

According to Cambridge police, a Mosque was also among the recipients of offensive messages in the past few weeks. Detective Sergeant Chris Wilson said: “An investigation is now underway to find where and from whom these letters originate. The letters received have been seized and are currently undergoing detailed forensic analysis.

“We are working closely with community leaders to reassure Cambridge’s various communities that these crimes are being taken extremely seriously.�

He added: “We deal robustly with crimes motivated by hate or prejudice, and the perpetrators of these offences can expect to be brought to justice.”

While confirming that Jewish Care was not the London recipient, Richard Munns, the charity�s deputy director of operations, said: �We are concerned to hear of any concerted efforts to harm the Jewish community. We already have set [security] procedures in place to deal with post, as advised by CST. No additional measures have been taken since hearing this news.�