Student Charged as ‘Brains’ Behind N.J. Temple Attacks
A Rutgers University student was reportedly charged with being the “brains” behind a string of recent attacks on synagogues in New Jersey.
Aakash Dalal, 19, of Lodi, N.J., was charged with arson and hate crimes. He’s being held on $2.5 million bail, the Star-Ledger of Newark reported.
Dalal’s childhood friend, Anthony Graziano, is accused of carrying out the Molotov cocktails attack on that were Congregation Beth El temple in Rutherford on January 11. The temple’s rabbi and his family were sleeping in their residence at the time and had to flee for their lives.
Police say Dalal was the mastermind of the attack, and other less-serious ones on synagogues, pushing his pal into action, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said.
Authorities described a “teacher-student” relationship between Dalal and Graziano, who reportedly both expressed disappointment when earlier attacks caused limited damage, the Star-Ledger reported.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
