Norwich, NY – The FBI joined the Norwich Police Department and the New York State Police in an investigation of what city Police Chief Joseph Angelino called "a complete trashing" of the Norwich Jewish Center at 70-76 South Broad St.
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"We are definitely treating this as a hate crime." Angelino said shortly after midnight. "My estimate of damages would be in the tens of thousands of dollars." 'There was a certain anti-Semitic graffiti message found in the synagogue," Angelino said. He would not elaborate on the message.
Police said the entire interior of the large three-story brick building was vandalized.
The police chief said the crime scene is quite large, including the entire building. Because of darkness and the fact that all light fixtures inside the synagogue were destroyed, evidence collection is waiting for daylight today.
The Norwich Jewish Center is the only synagogue in Chenango County and was the target of a hate crime in July 2003. [pressconnects]
Oy Gevald!