NYPD investigating after Upper East Side bank vandalized with paint referencing Palestine
An Upper East Side bank was vandalized Monday, forcing it to close for much of the day.
Vandals broke windows and spray-painted messages referencing Palestine.
The vandalism is being investigated as a possible bias incident, and a United Kingdom-based pro-Palestine group is taking credit for the vandalism.
The Capital One branch on East 86th Street was targeted just after 7 a.m. Windows were shattered. The front doors were spray painted. Not long after, cleanup crews were sweeping up glass and boarding up windows.
The United Kingdom activist group Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the damage. The U.S. Treasury Department has called the organization a far-left terrorist group.
The group told CBS News New York it targeted Capital One because of the bank's financial ties to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense technology company.
Palestine Action says Capital One is complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is now investigating the incident.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin called it a possible antisemitic hate crime.
"They are investigating. It's a terrible situation. The community is really concerned, and it just has to stop," Menin said.
"The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority. Fortunately, no one was injured during an incident at our 86th and 2nd branch location early this morning. We are working closely with law enforcement, defer all inquiries to the NYPD, and are taking steps to safely restore the branch and resume normal operations as soon as possible," a Capital One spokesperson said.
The event left people in the neighborhood stunned.
"Anger. Sadness. It hits me emotionally. You have problems, well, then protest. But to deface a public building and to scare people who live in this neighborhood, it's fear tactics. And I just don't appreciate it," one Upper East Side resident said.
"Needless to say, it's a scary time in America, not just for Jews but for people in general. There's a lot of hatred," another person said.
Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Mark Treyger also weighed in on social media.
"Acts of hateful vandalism intended to instill fear and intimidate Jewish New Yorkers demand swift accountability," he wrote. "Thank you @SpeakerMenin for raising the alarm, the NYPD and its Hate Crimes Task Force for their immediate response and our CSI partners for their support."
So far, no arrests have been made.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website or via DM on X, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
