Teen Arrested, Charged With Hate Crime, for Menacing Jews in Boro Park

The New York Police Department has arrested a teen who was part of a group that drove around Boro Park menacing Jews late last Friday night.

In at least four separate incidents in a brief time span, the group chased or assaulted Jews.

The incident caused alarm in the community, amid an overall rise of anti-Semitism, and on Wednesday, community leaders and elected officials met with police officials to convey the community’s alarm. Police promised a greater presence on the streets of the 66th precinct, particularly on Friday nights.

The initial break in the investigation came when Boro Park Shomrim obtained, and turned over to police, security camera footage showing the license plate of the car used by the perpetrators. Police identified four likely suspects, and Friday morning, a 16 year-old male turned himself in. He was charges with aggravated harassment as a hate crime. Further arrests are likely imminent, a source told Hamodia.

Elected officials on Twitter welcomed announcement of the arrest.

“Our little Village of Borough Park, U.S.A. will sleep a bit easier this Shabbos,” wrote Councilman Kalman Yeger.

Councilman Chaim Deutsch tweeted, “Now it’s vital that these attackers are prosecuted and made an example of. Releasing perpetrators with minimal consequences will not function as a deterrent.”

Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein thanked police and Shomrim for their work in the arrest, but said there is “still much work to be done to combat [the] re-emerging threat of anti-Semitism.”

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rborchardt@hamodia.com