NYPD releases images of suspects in antisemitic vandalism incidents across NYC
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Police are searching for suspects after several acts of vandalism in New York City linked to the war in the Middle East.
Five incidents of red paint vandalism between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Wednesday morning are under investigation and possibly connected.
Overnight, police released video of the suspects wanted for throwing red paint on the home of the director of the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn Heights. The incident is being investigated as criminal mischief and as a hate crime.
"The state police hate crimes task force is working with local police to investigate these crimes," said Gov. Kathy Hochul. "And I have directed our state police to increase patrols in sensitive locations all over New York. They'll be stationed at high risk community sites to ensure that everyone is protected."
It's just one of the places where vandals left a mess in a span of four hours early Wednesday morning, including leaving leaflets behind calling for more violence against Israel.
The German mission near the U.N. was also hit around 3:30 Wednesday morning, according to police. Four people vandalized the front of the building with paint and posters.
Video shows the people police are looking for, who were able to get away after the damage was done in a dark colored vehicle.
Surveillance video caught another act of vandalism on the Upper East Side. People can be seen getting out of a U-Haul truck on East 65th Street around 6 a.m. outside the Palestinian Authority.
Police said more than a dozen people walked up the street, spilled red liquid on the street and sidewalk, hung banners and scattered leaflets that called for more violence against Israel.
Meanwhile, there was more vandalism in Brooklyn as red paint was tossed at the home of the Brooklyn Museum president and chief operating officer.
Lawmakers, including Hochul, condemned the antisemitic vandalism.
"This is not who New Yorkers are and we should not descend into this chaos and allow any tolerance for this disgusting abhorrent behavior," Hochul said.
Police are still investigating if the acts of vandalism are connected and if the same people are responsible.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughty posted a message on 'X,' along with posters containing surveillance images of the suspects police are looking for in connection to some of these incidents.
ALSO READ: 2 NYPD officers injured in shootout with migrant in Queens
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
