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The NYPD hate crime division opened an investigation after a window was broken in a Brooklyn synagogue, reports CBS New York. More than a dozen people were inside Chabad of Bushwick to observe the Sabbath.
"My wife was here with the baby, 10 months old, another child was sleeping on the couch, the other kids were playing right here," Rabbi Menachem Heller told CBS New York.
About fifteen people, including children, were in the synagogue at the time of the events.
"They're all young people, young families, sometimes we sit here until 3 or 4 in the morning," Heller said.
On Saturday, around 2 am, the main window of the synagogue was broken by what the rabbi considered to be two vandals. He said it sounded like an explosion. Nobody was hurt.
"When we heard the boom, I ran and took some of the kids and we went back there," Heller said. "When we saw them look out the door and continue, we felt safe to go to the door."
Twitter / @ chabadbushwick via CBS New York
CBS New York stresses that, because of religious observance, no one had their mobile phone, so they had to cross the street to get to Dunkin Donuts for help.
Chain Duban comes from a different congregation and stopped to find out what had happened. From Sunday night, protective tape always surrounded the window, glass on the floor.
"We encourage love, it's the month of love and that's what's happening, which is really sad," Duban said.
"It was really scary, we did not know what would happen next," Heller added.
Last week, there was already 47 hate crimes this year, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio, doubling almost the number of last year during the same period. Two-thirds of these incidents targeted the Jewish community.
"I hope it's not a hate crime," Heller said. "I would not feel safe if that was the case, I hope that they will find out who it is and that these are people who have acted insane."
Shaken but not discouraged, the congregation will continue to meet in East Williamsburg, but additional precautions will be put in place, according to CBS New York.
Governor Andrew Cuomo condemned the incident as "a shocking and heinous act of hatred". He calls on the hate crimes unit of the state police to help the NYPD in its investigation.
Editor's Note: The title of this story has been updated to reflect Governor Andrew Cuomo condemns the attack.
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