A 33-year-old man allegedly sprayed an unknown substance at two victims as he yelled “Gasoline the Jews” in entrance of a Washington, DC synagogue Sunday morning, in keeping with police and a report.
Brent Wooden is accused of spraying the 2 victims as he shouted the antisemitic phrase outdoors the Kesher Israel Congregation round 9:30 a.m., authorities mentioned.
He allegedly yelled, “Gasoline the Jews” as he deployed the foul-smelling substance, sources informed NBC 4 Washington.
No accidents have been reported, and it’s unclear if the victims have been linked to the synagogue.
The suspect was arrested and his automobile was examined as a precaution, however no hazardous supplies have been discovered, Metro Police mentioned.
Wooden, who’s from Toledo, Ohio, was taken into custody and charged with easy assault and resisting arrest.
The incident is being investigated as a attainable hate or bias crime, authorities mentioned.
The classification of a criminal offense might be modified at any level as extra info is gathered, in keeping with Metro Police. Nonetheless, even whether it is later deemed a hate crime by investigators, it doesn’t imply prosecutors will robotically prosecute it as one, police famous.
The assault comes amid an increase in each antisemitic and Islamophobic throughout the nation linked to the continuing Israel-Hamas battle.