A New Jersey synagogue was nearly set on fire by an unidentified arsonist early Sunday morning, January 29, 2023. According to multiple reports, surveillance footage from Temple Ner Tamid, New Jersey captured the horrific act of an unidentified assailant throwing a Molotov cocktail at the synagogue’s front door. The incendiary device reportedly did not ignite at the scene.
Police are reportedly on the hunt for the assailant responsible for the heinous crime that targeted a Jewish temple in New Jersey and have released two images of the suspect.
The footage showed a suspect dressed entirely in black and wearing a ski mask walking into the temple before throwing a flammable bottle at the temple’s main entrance. The suspect then fled the scene on foot.
New Jersey synagogue officials discovered they had been attacked the next morning.
Police are reportedly searching for the suspect who threw a lit Molotov cocktail around 3:20 a.m. Sunday at the gate of Temple Ner Tamid in New Jersey. The remains of the glass bottle and gasoline, which did not catch fire on contact, were discovered around 9:30 a.m. m. by a temple official who alerted the authorities.
Addressing the attack on the synagogue, Rabbi Marc Katz told the Bergen Record that prior to the recent incident, the temple had tightened security measures at its premises, anticipating an anti-Semitic attack that he described as a frequent problem today.
The temple has reportedly added shatterproof barriers on the glass of the windows and doors, expecting the worst case scenario. The rabbi added that they had also lined up rocks around the front of the property to prevent someone from deliberately driving their vehicle into the temple. He said:
“People have been on high alert because of this and are legitimately concerned about the state of anti-Semitism given how prevalent it has been of late. Still, I don’t think anyone expects their congregation to be attacked.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement have increased patrols near the temple as they continue to search for the suspect who remains at large. Following the incident, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said his office was working with law enforcement to determine whether the recent attack on the synagogue was motivated by hatred against Jews.
Platkin added that they are working with multiple agencies, including the FBI, to apprehend the suspect.
“We are cognizant of the fact that these attacks have occurred as violence continues to erupt in Israel and as our nation faces violence at home. I want to assure all New Jerseyans, especially our friends and neighbors in the Black community and the Jewish faith, that law enforcement continues to take appropriate steps to increase our presence in sensitive locations so everyone in our state can adore, love, and live without fear of violence or threat.”
The latest incident comes amid rising anti-Semitic attacks in the country. According to the Anti-Defamation League, which has tracked incidents for four decades, 2021 saw the highest amount of harassment, vandalism, and violence against Jews. ADL also predicted a similar fate in the corresponding years.
Read Also: Catherine Davis Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Height, Net Worth, Fast Facts