A man who deliberately targeted a Manchester synagogue with a malicious bomb hoax in the vulnerable aftermath of a terror attack has been handed a prison sentence.
Joshua Rennie, 26, made a chilling phone call to the Sinai Synagogue in Salford on October 14th last year, just three days after the community had experienced a genuine anti-Semitic terror incident.
The court heard how Rennie coldly stated there was "a bomb in the building," forcing staff to evacuate the premises and triggering a major emergency response from Greater Manchester Police.
Preying on a vulnerable community
Manchester Crown Court was told this was a calculated act targeting a community already reeling from trauma. The previous terror attack had seen a man attempt to set fire to the synagogue's entrance while making threats.
"This was a deliberate and malicious act designed to cause maximum fear and distress," the prosecution stated. "He exploited the genuine terror this community had recently experienced."
Swift police investigation leads to arrest
Thanks to rapid police work, authorities were able to trace the threatening call directly back to Rennie's mobile phone. He was subsequently arrested and charged with communicating a bomb hoax.
Rennie, of no fixed address, initially denied the offence but later changed his plea to guilty, acknowledging his responsibility for the malicious call.
Judge delivers strong message
In sentencing Rennie to 18 weeks imprisonment, the judge emphasised the severity of targeting a religious community with such threats, particularly so soon after a genuine attack.
The sentence sends a clear message that bomb hoaxes against religious institutions will be treated with the utmost seriousness by the courts, especially when they compound existing trauma within vulnerable communities.
Greater Manchester Police have welcomed the sentencing, stating it demonstrates their commitment to protecting all communities from hate-fuelled incidents and ensuring perpetrators face appropriate consequences.
