Police in Lakewood, New Jersey, have opened an investigation after several swastikas were found inside a synagogue early Wednesday morning last week, authorities said over the weekend.
According to police, a person arriving at the synagogue reported the vandalism at 5:38 a.m. after noticing swastikas sprayed in several locations inside the building.
Swastika. archive
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Officers documented the markings before they were removed.
Lakewood police said the case was being investigated as a suspected hate incident.
“Hate crimes and bias incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness, and the department is committed to identifying those responsible,” police said in a statement.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or disclosed a possible motive. The investigation remains ongoing.
Lakewood is one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing municipalities, with more than 142,000 residents according to the latest census figures. More than half of its population is Orthodox Jewish.
The city is also home to Beth Medrash Govoha, the world’s largest yeshiva outside Israel.
Lakewood’s high birth rate has given it an unusually young median age, while its large Haredi community constitutes an influential voting bloc in local and state politics.
Because of the size and character of its Orthodox population, Lakewood is sometimes called the “Bnei Brak of America.” The two cities have been official sister cities since 2011.