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Police Search For Suspected Yeshiva Arsonist Amid 93% Spike In NYC Hate Crime Cases This Year
By
David Cruz
Published Oct 16, 2021
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NYPD
By
David Cruz
Published Oct 16, 2021
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As state and city investigators continue to search for a woman suspected of deliberately starting a fire outside a Brooklyn yeshiva this week, statistics show the number of hate crimes across New York City have increased by 93% compared to the same time period a year ago.
Figures from the NYPD through October 10th show there have been 423 cases categorized as a hate crime compared to 219 the same time a year ago. Of those, the majority were in Queens, where 207 hate crimes cases have been reported in 2021, according to police. The biggest percentage jump also happened in Queens, where precincts in the southern end of the borough saw a 200% increase in cases this year, according to the data. Staten Island was the only borough that saw hate crimes drop, going from 18 in 2020 to 17 the same time this year.
Those cases are investigated by the Hate Crimes Task Force, which is now probing the incident at the Yeshiva of Flatbush school at 1609 Avenue J in Midwood on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. According to police, the woman was carrying a red gasoline canister and approached the yeshiva. She then poured gasoline by the school and lit a match before fleeing, according to police. A security guard standing watch saw the fire and immediately put it out. There were no injuries.
Police initially released video stills of the incident, which was followed by surveillance video showing the showing the suspect at a store carrying the gallon of gasoline.
The incident sparked reaction, including by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said in a tweet that the attack on "our yeshivas is an attack on all New Yorkers."
"We WILL bring this person to justice," de Blasio added.
The incident caught the attention of Governor Kathy Hochul who has directed the state Hate Crimes Task Force to offer assistance in the case.
"No child should ever be made to feel unsafe, especially in a place of learning," Hochul said in a statement Friday.
The suspect is described by police as 5'4" tall, with dark hair. She was last seen wearing dark-colored clothes, black shoes, and carrying the red gasoline canister.
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hate crimes
brooklyn
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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