Brooklyn cemetery damage not vandalism, police say
Neglect and other factors blamed for 42 toppled headstones at predominantly Jewish cemetery in New York
NEW YORK — The New York Police Department said Sunday there was no evidence of vandalism at a predominantly Jewish cemetery where more than 40 tombstones were toppled over.
The NYPD said after consultation with the management of the Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn, it was determined the 42 tombstones came down as a result of a number of factors.
Those include long-term neglect or lack of maintenance, as well as environmental factors such as soil erosion.
There has been a rash of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries and 122 bomb threats against Jewish organizations in three dozen states since early January.
.@BPShomrim alerted me that stones @ Washington Cemetery are down. I’ve spoken w/ the NYPD who are investigating. I'll be there in the am. pic.twitter.com/j3wHa1dzEp
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) March 5, 2017
Authorities said Friday that Juan Thompson, a former journalist fired for fabricating details in stories, made at least eight threats against Jewish institutions nationwide as part of a campaign against his ex-girlfriend.
Earlier on Sunday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, visiting Israel, said the rash of anti-Semitic acts in the United States was “reprehensible” and his state would have no tolerance for them.
Speaking at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Cuomo says the incidents “violated every tenet of the New York State tradition.” He said the state had posted rewards and put together a special police unit to combat the phenomenon.
Jewish cemeteries were recently found damaged in Rochester, New York, Philadelphia, Pannesylvania, and near St. Louis, Missouri.
The Times of Israel Community.