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.
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.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
