Laconia NH, anti-sematic act

Scott — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:51:50 +0000

Laconia NH, anti-sematic act Scott Thu, 09/21/2023 - 09:51

LACONIA, N.H. —

Investigators say hateful messages found spray-painted in a New Hampshire community are particularly concerning because they targeted a specific person.

Laconia police are investigating racist and antisemitic graffiti found at the former Laconia State School. The city manager called it appalling, especially because it called out a specific member of Laconia's Jewish community.

Police were notified on Sunday about the hateful messages and symbols that were spraypainted on an abandoned building and water tower at the former school.

The building has been closed for decades, but the grounds are still maintained by the state and remain a hotspot for people to go for a walk or run.

"It's very remote, but it is used," said city manager Kirk Beattie. "Trails run through there. Roads run through there. It's not uncommon for people to be out there running and walking and just enjoying nature."

Beattie said such vandalism is not new to the community, saying similar graffiti was found in the city last year. But he said this time, the messages were taken to another level.

"The difference this time now is what was actually written on there was calling out a member of the Laconia Jewish community, as well as what appeared to be links that would draw someone to the types of sites that would promote this type of activity," he said.

The police and city said they are taking the vandalism seriously, adding that such messages don't reflect the feelings of the community.

"This is not going to be tolerated in Laconia," Beattie said. "We are not going to allow this."

Beattie said it's still far too early in the investigation to tell if the person behind the graffiti was a local or part of a larger hate group.

"We will work with (police) very hard, so we can try to figure out who did this and prosecute them when we get to that point," Beattie said.

The attorney general's office and the FBI are assisting in the investigation.

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Jewish School attacked unsuccessfully

Scott — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:49:18 +0000

Jewish School attacked unsuccessfully Scott Wed, 07/26/2023 - 22:49

Thankfully no one was injured in the attack on the school. Having someone deter the shooter without gaining access to the school was very fortunate. What if the contractor was not there?

I suggest several options to my clients. - Single locked entrance leading into an access control vestibule providing physical security access control. - An Aiphone system at entry and delivery points to ensure audio and visual communications. - Bullet-proofing film on glass in the access control vestibule. - Monitored CCTV - Armed guard(s)

CNN —

A man accused of firing shots outside a Memphis, Tennessee, Jewish school he was allegedly trying to enter now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder in the second degree, authorities said Wednesday.

The suspect – identified as 33-year-old Joel Alejandro Bowman – unsuccessfully attempted to get into the Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South on Monday armed with a handgun before opening fire outside and driving away, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

“When he could not gain entry, he fired shots outside the school,” Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said Monday. No one was injured at the school.

When Memphis police officers stopped the suspect in his truck a short time later, he got out with a gun in his hand and was shot by an officer, Crowe said.

Police did not provide details on Bowman’s condition Wednesday. Authorities said he was in critical condition when he was first taken to a nearby hospital.

An armed man tried walking into a Jewish school in Memphis and opened fire outside when he couldn't get in, police say

Bowman has been charged with one count each of criminal attempted second-degree murder; carrying weapons on school property; reckless endangerment; possessing a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony; and assault against a first responder, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

As the investigation continues, it’s unclear what motivated the incident.

A spokesperson for the Secure Community Network, an organization that has worked with the school through the Memphis Jewish Federation, previously told CNN that the incident at the academy “was personal in nature.”

The suspect was described as Jewish and a former student of the school, according to US Rep. Steve Cohen, who represents the Memphis area.

In a letter to families, obtained by CNN affiliate WHBQ on Monday, the Margolin Hebrew Academy said the suspect tried to enter their school, had a “brief confrontation” with a contract worker and fired two shots from the gun he was carrying, “while retreating from this worker.”

The school issued a statement Tuesday morning, expressing shock over the incident.

“We are shocked and saddened by the events that took place at MHA-FYOS yesterday, and incredibly grateful to God that thanks to our school’s extensive security measure and the swift response by the Memphis Police Department, every is safe,” the statement reads.

“Thank you to the entire Memphis community and our friends around the world for your love and support. We stand united in our commitment to keeping all students and school staff members safe,” the statement added.

CNN’s Shawn Nottingham, Alta Spells, Zoe Sottile, Amy Simonson, Devon Sayers, Rebekah Riess and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.

An armed man tried walking into a Jewish school in Memphis and opened fire outside when he couldn’t get in, police say

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Laconia NH, anti-sematic act

LACONIA, N.H. —

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Jewish School attacked unsuccessfully

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