Swastikas were found scratched and spray-painted on the hood of a Haifa resident's vehicle Monday in the latest possible sign of spreading neo-Nazism in Israel.
The owner of the car filed a complaint Monday morning, according to which the unknown perpetrators had spray-painted and scratched swastikas, a star and the number 666 on her car, after slashing all four tires.
Haifa police opened an investigation into the matter, and Commander David Ben Atiyah reported that at the moment, no neo-Nazi group is known to be operating in the city.
Police sources believe the crime was an act of vandalism, and was not related to neo-Nazi organization or devil worship, but was simply youth seeking to cause trouble.
Commander Ben Atiyah reported that following the uncovering of neo-Nazi activity in central Israel, Haifa police have increased activity in an attempt to locate any such groups in the area, but that none have been found so far.
Ben Atiyah said there has been a number of isolated incidents of desecration of holy books and spray-paintings, but that there was no real organization.
"Neo-Nazi or other organizations have their own symbols, and marks of identification. As far as we know at the moment, and sensitivity and treatment of the subject have recently increased, there are no such organizations in Haifa," Atiyah said.
The commander added that a Haifa woman recently reported in local media that she was attacked by a number of youths who beat her and called out "heil Hitler", but that the woman did not file a complaint with the police.