Investigators with the University City Police Department are working to determine who knocked over or damaged dozens of headstones at a local Jewish cemetery Thursday morning. Police would not say if they considered the vandalism at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery to be a hate crime. It is believed there was some organization behind the crime, meaning this was not the act of one individual. The tombstones vandalized are in an older section of the cemetery; much of which pre-date 1960. A steady stream of people were stopping by to see if the toppled headstones belonged to any of their family members who are buried at the site. Police said they're reviewing security camera footage from the area. More than 100 headstones were damaged. The investigation coincides with yet another round of bomb threats at Jewish community centers across the nation. According to cemetery executive director, Anita Feigenbaum a clean-up effort is being planned. Feigenbaum, said the Muslim community has offered to help with the effort as well.
The incident coincides with waves of bomb threats directed at Jewish community centers across the US. On Monday at least 10 Jewish community centers were targeted with bomb threats, for the fourth time in five weeks. The threats have been called in to JCCs across the country, according to Paul Goldenberg, the director of Secure Community Network — an affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America that advises Jewish groups and institutions on security.
