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A man who fired a shotgun twice outside Temple Israel in Albany, New York, on Thursday told police “Free Palestine” as he was taken into custody.
No one was injured in the shooting, which occurred just before the start of Hanukkah.
The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Mufid Fawaz Alkhader.
Alkhader was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and the incident — which occurred at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, and forced children at the synagogue’s preschool to go into lockdown — is being investigated by law enforcement authorities as a hate crime.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated, “Undermining public safety at a synagogue on the first night of Hanukkah is deplorable. New Yorkers stand united against antisemitism, hate, and violence in all forms.”
I’m directing @nyspolice & @NationalGuardNY to be on high alert & increase existing patrols of at-risk sites.
Undermining public safety at a synagogue on the first night of Hanukkah is deplorable. New Yorkers stand united against antisemitism, hate, & violence in all forms.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) December 7, 2023
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan commented, “The tragic events that occurred at Temple Israel today are a symptom of the malignant antisemitism that is spreading across our country.It is our collective responsibility in Albany, in our state, and across our nation — regardless of our beliefs — to stand up and speak out against antisemitism. We cannot allow the atrocities of the past to repeat themselves.”
The tragic events that occurred at Temple Israel today are a symptom of the malignant anti-Semitism that is spreading across our country.
— Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan (@MayorSheehan) December 7, 2023
A passerby spoke with the gunman near the scene about ten minutes after the shots were fired. The suspect dropped his weapon to the ground before police arrived to detain him.
“We were told by responding officers that he made a comment, ‘Free Palestine,’” Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said.
The FBI Albany office is taking part in the investigation, alongside the ATF and state and city police.
#FBIAlbany statement on the shots fired incident at Temple Israel in Albany:@albanypolice @NYSPolice @ATFNewYork pic.twitter.com/zk34sY2yhy
— FBI Albany (@FBIAlbany) December 7, 2023
The synagogue’s candle-lighting ceremony for the first night of Hanukkah went ahead as planned later on Thursday.
“We need light in darkness,” Rabbi Wendy Love Anderson said.
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” -Leonard Cohen
Happy Hanukkah Albany! 🕯️ May your candles burn bright this season. pic.twitter.com/2VB8ic7szG— Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan (@MayorSheehan) December 8, 2023
Thursday’s incident in Albany occurred amid a global surge of antisemitic violence and harassment triggered by the October 7th Hamas attack against Israel.
