Second man charged in NJ synagogue attacks

Aakash Dalal, 19, was charged with conspiracy, aggravated arson, bias intimidation and criminal mischief

(JTA) — A second man was charged with attacks on two northern New Jersey synagogues, including one that injured a rabbi who was living in the synagogue residence.

Aakash Dalal, 19, was charged March 2 with conspiracy, aggravated arson, bias intimidation and criminal mischief. Dalal reportedly was enrolled at Rutgers University and was arrested in New Brunswick, N.J.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli called Dalal the “instigator” in the January firebombing attacks. Dalal reportedly did not participate in the actual attacks by Anthony Graziano, who was charged last month. The two met in middle school in Lodi, which is in Bergen County, the site of the attacks.

Dalal will appear in court on Monday. He is being held on $2.5 million bond.

The second attack, on Jan. 11 in Rutherford on Congregation Beth El, injured Rabbi Nosson Schuman, who lives with his family in the synagogue residence.

The first attack occurred on Jan. 3 on Congregation K’Hal Adath Jeshurun in Paramus, N.J. Graziano allegedly was scared off an attack on another synagogue in Paramus by an increased police presence.