NEW YORK โ Several Jewish sites in Brooklyn were targeted when vandals spray-painted red swastikas on a yeshiva, a cemetery, and a Jewish social services building, city and state officials said.
The Magen David Yeshiva in the Gravesend neighborhood was among the locations hit, with two red swastikas scrawled on a pillar and a school window, according to surveillance video and police statements.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit has opened an investigation. Police released video footage showing a lone male suspect riding a bicycle near the school shortly before the graffiti was discovered. Officers said the suspect fled northbound toward Avenue S.
State Sen. Sam Sutton described the incidents as entirely unacceptable. He said the sites were targeted because they represent Jewish life. “Why? Simply because they stand for Judaism,” he said.
Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the vandalism and emphasized accountability. “You cannot engage in such hatred in our great state, in our great city, and the great borough of Brooklyn, and think you will get away with it; you will be caught and you will be punished,” she said at a press briefing. The governor announced additional funding measures to bolster security at nonpublic schools.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani publicly denounced the act. He said he takes antisemitism seriously and pledged to work to protect Jewish New Yorkers, remarks that addressed community concerns, given the timing of the graffiti.
Officials said swastikas were also found on construction barriers outside a Jewish cemetery in Midwood and on a nearby concrete wall. Community volunteers and crews moved quickly to cover and remove the graffiti. Local Jewish groups placed Israeli flags over the vandalized spots as an immediate response.
Jewish leaders described the vandalism as a painful reminder of historical antisemitism and a threat to communal security. Community organizations urged parents and students to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to authorities. Several pro-Jewish and Zionist advocacy groups called for stepped-up protection of synagogues, schools, and community centers.
Law enforcement officials said the investigation is active and that detectives are canvassing the area for additional footage and witnesses. They asked anyone with information to contact the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit. No arrests were reported at the time officials made the initial public statements.
Analysts and communal security advisers said such incidents raise questions about prevention and rapid response. They highlighted the importance of coordinated steps between local police, state authorities, and Jewish community security teams to deter repeat attacks and to reassure families who use schools and community facilities daily.
The timing and visibility of the graffiti intensified public debate. Some political figures linked the vandalism to broader civic tensions, while others urged unity and restraint until investigators establish motive and identify suspects. Jewish organizations stressed that, regardless of motive, the symbol is a direct affront to Jewish safety and memory.
City and state officials pledged continued support for community security grants and for the rapid removal of hate graffiti. The NYPD reiterated that it treats attacks on religious institutions and symbols as serious bias crimes and urged cooperation from the public in the ongoing probe.
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This article is based on verified information from CBS New York, The Times of Israel, ABC7 New York, The Jerusalem Post, and the New York State Senate press office.