The Council called on the Russian authorities to beef up security at synagogues and other Jewish sites and to toughen laws against extremist behavior.

“There have been a series of concerns over the past year and this attempt to murder Jews just because they are Jews is one more,” said Council Chairman Jack Rosen. “We hope President Putin takes additional steps to protect minorities and innocent citizens against this type of extremist hatred and violence.”

“Through our continuing work with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia, we are aware of the large number of hate groups and extremist political parties in Russia,” Rosen said. The federation is affiliated with the Council for World Jewry.

The attack was by a knife-wielding skinhead who entered the synagogue shouting “I will kill Jews!” stabbing 11 men stabbed before the assailant was wrestled to the ground by the son of a rabbi.

The Council welcomed the statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry that “We will continue an uncompromising struggle against all manifestations of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and religious intolerance.”

At the same time, Rosen said he wanted to underscore the warning by Borukh Gorin, chief spokesman for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, that “Fascism will come knocking at the door of every citizen if we do not take serious measures now.”

Federation spokesmen said the attacker shouted “I will kill people, I will kill Jews” after bursting into the synagogue complex at about 5:30 P.M., stabbing a security guard who tried to stop him.

“This was not a game, he was out to kill,” said Iosif Ostrovsky, a rabbinical student who said he saw the assailant stab several people - aiming at their necks, heads or upper bodies. He said the man also shouted “Heil Hitler!”

Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar called the attack “the latest result of the brazen and practically unpunished propaganda of fascism in this country.”