Police investigating Nazi graffiti at Colorado synagogue

Neighbors discovered Nazi graffiti spray-painted on a sign outside a Colorado Springs synagogue on Friday, local Denver media reported.

Police have since opened an investigation into the vandalism, which included a swastika and the Nazi salute “Sig Heil.”

In addition to the sign defacement, nearby cars, homes and buildings were also spray-painted with graffiti, police told The Gazette.

Responding to the incident, synagogue rabbi Steven Kaye told the Colorado Springs Gazette that he was “deeply saddened” yet “not surprised” by the incident, adding that those “insensitive to people who are different” have recently become more vocal.

The Anti-Defamation League urged police to investigate the vandalism as a hate crime.

“This incident supports our grave concern about the increased number of bias-motivated incidents, including acts of anti-Semitism, which are occurring in Colorado and across the country,” ADL regional director Scott Levin said.

Colorado Springs local Daniel Bushman said he scrubbed most of the graffiti off the sign Friday morning, though he was unable to erase the markings completely.

Explaining what motivated him to act, Bushman told The Gazette, “All the neighbors look out for each other. I was beyond surprised to see that. It’s my neighborhood. We all have to live here.”

This wasn’t the first time the Reform temple has dealt with anti-Semitic vandalism.

On April 20, 2012, the words “Happy 4:20,” were found spray-painted on walls of the buildings along with other Nazi graffiti, referencing Adolf Hitler’s birthday.