California synagogue vandalized with antisemitic graffiti

A synagogue in California was defaced with antisemitic graffiti on Wednesday night, local police reported. The attack happened less than a week after the deadliest antisemitic shooting in United States history in Pittsburgh.

Vandals sprayed antisemitic insults across the Beth Jacob Congregation’s walls, which is located in Irvine, California. Expletives such as “F*** Jews” were sprayed overnight on the synagogue.

Police increased their presence around the area as a result of the incident.

As reported by the NBC Los Angeles, the Irvine Police Department said that “the men and women of the Irvine Police Department denounce, in the strongest terms, this type of hateful act.”

The statement continued: “We are committed to our mission, working in partnership with the community to preserving the peace.”

Last Saturday, eleven worshipers were gunned down by a man who stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and opened fire.

The shooter, Robert Bowers, yelled antisemitic statements including: “All Jews must die.”

Bowers was charged with 44 criminal counts, including murder and committing religious hate crimes.

He appeared in court yesterday and pleaded not guilty. All he said was that he understood the charges against him.