A Bloomfield synagogue was targeted in an apparent arson attempt early Sunday after a man in a balaclava threw a Molotov cocktail at its front door.
Police responded to a report of property damage at the Ner Tamid Temple at 9:30am and reviewed surveillance video from the temple which showed the masked man lighting the glass bottle and throwing it. The bottle broke but caused no damage, according to police. The suspect then fled up the driveway.
The incident occurred at 3:19 am at the temple, located at 936 Broad St., police said.
The Bloomfield Police Department is looking for a man who threw a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the Ner Tamid Temple in Bloomfield at 3.19am Sunday
Bloomfield Police are working with Essex County prosecutors, the FBI and the ATF to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 973-680-4084 or email [email protected].
The arson attempt comes amid a reported rise in anti-Semitism that has prompted places of worship to tighten security measures.
“This incident takes place in an atmosphere of intimidation and intolerance, and a rising tide of anti-Jewish hate crimes and anti-Jewish hate speech,” said Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest of New Jersey.
The Ner Tamid Temple on Broad Street in Bloomfield.
“Our Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ will continue to work with all community partners to resist hate, build our resilience, and promote safety and security.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Man throws Molotov cocktails at Bloomfield Temple in arson attempt
