Swastika painted on tree in Brooklyn neighborhood

Though police have not yet identified suspects, CCTV footage shows a group of teens in the area around the crime scene within the crime's time frame.

JUNE 29, 2021 08:33

Updated: JUNE 29, 2021 08:34

Swastika painted on car in Kibbutz Hatzerim in the Negev. (photo credit: Courtesy) — Swastika painted on car in Kibbutz Hatzerim in the Negev.

(photo credit: Courtesy)

Brooklyn's Bay Ridge police were notified of a swastika painted on a tree outside a residence in the New York town on Sunday morning, according to the Brooklyn Paper.

Though police have not yet identified suspects, CCTV footage shows a group of teens in the area around the crime scene within the crime's time frame.

It is believed the suspects painted the swastika at around 1 a.m. on June 27 on 85th street between 4th and 5th avenue, police said.

“Greatly upset that a swastika was found in Bay Ridge & even more disturbed that video shows it was done by young teens,” wrote Senator Andrew Gounardes, who represents the area, on Twitter.

Greatly upset that a swastika was found in #BayRidge & even more disturbed that video shows it was done by young teens. @NYPD68Pct is investigating.A recent survey showed ~ 30% of NY 18-39 yr olds think the Holocaust was a myth. We cannot let the next gen forget those horrors.
— Andrew Gounardes (@agounardes) June 27, 2021

It was immediately removed by the city council, once being brought to attention.

“I had it removed as soon as it was brought to my attention. Based on video footage, it looks like it was done by young teens,” said councilman Justin Brannan, according to the Brooklyn Paper. “The swastika is a symbol of antisemitism, hatred, mass murder, and terror and its appearance must be taken seriously even if it was the work of some young kids. Spray painting a swastika is not a joke or some silly prank.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo intends to have the incident investigated as a hate crime.

“I am disgusted to learn that a swastika was spray-painted on a tree in Bay Ridge, and I thank the members of the local community for doing all of us a service and removing it from sight,” Cuomo said, according to the report. “These ignorant anti-Semitic hate crimes against our Jewish brothers and sisters are an attack on all New Yorkers.”