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Temple University police obtain arrest warrants in vandalism cases

They are against students who were involved in two incidents against the Jewish fraternity AEPi.

Students and faculty of Temple University occupy College Green on the third day of a protest encampment at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, April 27, 2024. Photo by Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images.
Students and faculty of Temple University occupy College Green on the third day of a protest encampment at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, April 27, 2024. Photo by Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images.

Temple University in Philadelphia announced that its campus police department had obtained two felony arrest warrants for individuals who allegedly vandalized Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), a Jewish fraternity, on May 24 and July 27.

The update on Monday to an Aug. 2 statement from Richard M. Englert, the school’s president, and Gregory N. Mandel, its senior vice president and provost, expressed gratitude to law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office “for their continued efforts to keep the Temple community safe.”

The public state-related research university noted that the investigation into a third case of vandalism at the Jewish fraternity remains open and those with information should contact Temple police. This incident involved the spray-painting of “Free Palestine” onto the fraternity house’s roof and the theft of an Israeli flag.

“We will continue to make one thing abundantly clear: Temple University does not tolerate antisemitic or other hate crimes, including vandalism and damage to property. Temple unequivocally condemns antisemitism and other acts of hatred, incitement to violence, threats, harassment and discrimination against any person,” Englert and Mandel wrote in their statement.

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