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Man convicted for threatening to blow up San Francisco synagogue

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins listens as Police Chief Bill Scott address the recent wave of attacks against the Asian Community in San Francisco, on July 26, 2023. | Source: Justin Katigbak/The Standard

A man who made criminal threats to a synagogue last year has been convicted by jury, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Anatoly Smolkin, 39, was convicted after he threatened to destroy Temple Emanu-El in the Inner Richmond in April 2022.

READ MORE: ‘Act of Terrorism’: Witnesses Recall Man Firing Blanks Inside SF Synagogue

At around noon on that day, Smolkin walked up to the front entrance of Temple Emanu-El and threatened to blow it up and kill everyone there.

On-site security notified authorities, and Smolkin was arrested without incident by the San Francisco Police Department.

Smolkin faces up to six years in state prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28.