Police arrested two 15-year-old boys on Jan. 22 for allegedly painting dozens of swastikas in red and blue across a playground in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The vandalism occurred over the course of two days at Gravesend Park in the Borough Park neighborhood with swastikas painted across slides, handball courts and other playground equipment—first on Jan. 19 and again on Jan. 21.
One of the teens was charged with two counts of aggravated harassment and two counts of hate-crime criminal mischief related to the two-day spree, police said. The other boy, who police described as the primary vandal, was charged with 41 counts of aggravated harassment.
The antisemitic markings have been removed. The area has a significant population of Orthodox Jews, including many schoolchildren.
Security cameras near the park helped identify the teens, the New York Post reported. Aided by a field intelligence officer, officers reviewed the boys’ social-media accounts before arresting them at their homes. Both suspects, whose names will not be released because they are minors, have no prior criminal history and are being charged as juveniles.
The New York City Police Department’s 66th Precinct thanked the Boro Park Shomrim and NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force “for their outstanding teamwork and dedication in bringing those responsible for the bias incident in our parks to justice.”
“United efforts are what matter, and there is no place for hate in our communities,” police said.
