Vandal Smashes Windows of Jewish Centers in Riverdale

NEW YORK
riverdale vandalism
The suspect seen on surveillance footage.

The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating, and the Jewish community is on alert, after shuls and Jewish community centers were vandalized six times over the weekend in Riverdale.

In each case, an individual approached the building and threw heavy objects at the façade. In each case there was a single perpetrator, and an NYPD spokesperson told Hamodia it is believed that one person is responsible for all incidents.

On Thursday, a man threw rocks at front door of the Riverdale Jewish Center. On Saturday night, windows were broken.

Later that night, around 11:30, a suspect broke windows of a Conservative temple.

Windows at the Chabad of Riverdale were found broken on Friday and then again on Saturday night.

And the Young Israel of Riverdale had several of its windows broken around 10:45 p.m. Saturday night.

The suspect is also believed to have broken the windows of three vehicles on West 239 street near the Henry Hudson Parkway.

Due to the tension, there was an increased police presence in the area on Sunday.

In a statement, Governor Andrew Cuomo condemned the vandalism and said, “We have no tolerance for discriminatory acts that seek to divide us rather than bring us together… We stand with Jewish New Yorkers–an essential part of the fabric of our state–as we do with all victims of bigotry, and I look forward to seeing this investigation resolved quickly.”

On Monday, NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea visited Riverdale to meet with community leaders and visit the damaged buildings. “There is no place for hate in NYC,” he wrote on social media, adding that the Hate Crimes Unit was investigating.

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smarcus@hamodia.com 

 

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