Two NJ men indicted in series of synagogue bombings

Childhood friends could face life in prison if convicted of all 30 charges

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — Two men were formally charged Friday in a series of firebomb attacks on synagogues in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

A grand jury handed up a 30-count indictment against Aakash Dalal and Anthony M. Graziano, Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Graziano faces nine counts of attempted murder stemming from the firebombing of a rabbi’s residence in Rutherford on Jan. 11, 2012. Police said Molotov cocktails were thrown at Congregation Beth El in Rutherford, igniting a fire in the second-floor bedroom of the rabbi’s residence where he, his wife, five children and his parents were sleeping at the time and escaped serious injury.

Both Graziano and Dalal are charged with bias intimidation, conspiracy to commit arson upon a synagogue and aggravated arson. They also face charges related to terrorism, possession of destructive devices and hindering apprehension.

The two were both 19 at the time, and are childhood friends from Lodi. They are facing up to life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Brian Neary, an attorney representing Dalal, said his client will plead not guilty.

“He’s a college student, not a mastermind,” Neary said.

An attorney representing Graziano couldn’t be reached for comment.

Graziano is being held on $2.5 million bail. Dalal is in custody on $5.5 million bail.

No injuries were reported in the series of synagogue attacks, but they kept Jewish residents of the ethnically and religiously diverse communities that are part of the New York metropolitan area, on edge for weeks until arrests were made.