Increased Patrols Following Jersey City Attack on Jews

By COLlive reporter

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the local response to Tuesday’s attack in a kosher grocery store in Jersey City.

“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I offer our deepest condolences to the families of those lost in Jersey City, including Detective Joseph Seals who was tragically killed in the line of duty,” he said.

“The Mayor of Jersey City has asserted that this incident was a deliberate attack targeting the Jewish community. This tragically confirms that a growing pattern of violent anti-Semitism has now turned into a crisis for our nation. And now this threat has reached the doorstep of New York City.

“Although there is no credible or specific threat directed against New York City, I have directed the NYPD to assume a state of high alert. NYPD assets are being redeployed to protect key locations in the Jewish community and we will be announcing additional measures later today.

“History teaches us how dangerous it is to ignore this kind of hateful pattern. We must stop anti-Semitism aggressively and decisively, and I call upon all New Yorkers to join in rooting out this threat.”

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New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said he is directing state police to increase patrols near synagogues and Jewish establishments in the wake of the attack that killed several Jewish people.

“We now know that this disgusting act of violence was a deliberate attack on the Jewish community in Jersey City. Out of an abundance of caution, I am directing State Police to increase patrols and security around synagogues and Jewish establishments while New Jersey law enforcement further investigates this horrific act,” he said.

“Anti-Semitism and violence against the Jewish community are on the rise both in our state and across the nation. We must stand united, be vigilant and stamp out this vile disease of hate wherever we see it. New York is a proud home to the Jewish community and we will continue to reject hateful acts whenever and wherever we see them.”