New York State Police are investigating a suspected antisemitic hate crime after five Orthodox Jewish women were attacked with liquid agricultural manure while cycling in the Catskill Mountains, reports Israel National News.
The assault took place last Thursday in Greenfield Park, a popular holiday destination in New York State that attracts large numbers of Jewish visitors during the summer months.
According to police and local media reports, the women were riding their bicycles when a vehicle carrying several occupants slowed alongside them. One of the passengers allegedly used a high-pressure spraying device, similar to a water cannon, to blast the group with liquid agricultural fertiliser.
Two of the women were struck directly by the spray.
One woman was hit in the face and ear by the powerful jet of liquid, causing her to lose control of her bicycle and fall to the ground. Another cyclist was struck in the back.
Witnesses reported that the occupants of the vehicle shouted antisemitic insults and abusive language at the women, who were wearing traditional Haredi Jewish clothing, both before and after the attack.
Police have launched an investigation and are treating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Detectives are reviewing security camera footage from nearby homes and businesses in an effort to identify the vehicle involved and obtain its registration number. Officers have also conducted searches of the surrounding area as part of the investigation.
The case has become a priority for both law enforcement and local Jewish community leaders because of concerns about the safety of Jewish visitors to the Catskills, which has long been a popular summer destination for Orthodox Jewish families.
No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Photo cretdit: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90
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