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A shooting at a New York synagogue on the first day of Hanukkah is being investigated as a hate crime.
The incident happened at Albany’s Temple Israel, located on New Scotland Avenue, on Thursday, Dec. 7.
According to Albany Police, the 28-year-old man fired two shots from a shotgun in the building's parking lot. Nobody was injured.
The shots were first heard by the temple's director of Early Childhood Center, who called 911.
At least two dozen preschool-aged children were inside the building at the time, police said.
The facility was immediately placed on a lockdown, which has since been lifted.
Witnesses told police the man had been walking around outside the synagogue "acting very suspiciously" moments before the shooting.
He mentioned feeling "victimized" to a witness and was heard yelling, "Free Palestine," according to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.
Officers were on scene within minutes and arrested the suspect without incident.
Hawkins confirmed that the FBI is also investigating due to the belief that the shooting was a hate crime.
Speaking at a press conference hours later, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had spoken with the synagogue's rabbi.
“Assuring her that the state will do everything in our power to restore the sense of security her community needs,” Hochul said.
She added that she was directing the New York State Police and the New York National Guard to be on “high alert” and increase existing patrols of at-risk sites.
“Undermining public safety at a synagogue on the first night of Hanukkah is deplorable,” she said. “New Yorkers stand united against antisemitism, hate, & violence in all forms.”
Hochul said she was planning on attending Shabbat services at the temple on Friday evening, Dec. 8.
"As we've talked about before, after the October 7th attacks, I've directed our State Police, as well as the National Guard, to be on high alert," she said.
"They have been conducting surveillance and created a presence at synagogues, yeshivas, museums, cultural centers, all vulnerable targets throughout the state of New York ever since October 7th. And especially during the holiday season.
"The prospect of violence in a place of worship is not just an attack on the building. It's an attack on the very fabric of our society, our freedom to express our faith, our collective shared sense of safety."
The shooting comes amid heightened security concerns at Jewish schools and places of worship across the country amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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