NYPD says gravestones at Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn were not vandalized
— -- Police in New York City have determined that gravestones damaged in a predominantly Jewish burial ground in Brooklyn had not been vandalized.
More than 40 tombstones were overturned at Washington Cemetery in the borough's Midwood neighborhood. The NYPD's hate crimes division was notified and investigated the matter. Investigators later said environmental factors and maintenance likely caused the damage, ABC News' New York station WABC reported.
New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind Saturday night tweeted photos of the overturned tombstones, writing that the neighborhood watch group Boro Park Shomrim "alerted me that stones @ Washington Cemetery are down. I've spoken w/ the NYPD who are investigating. I'll be there in the am."
In a statement following the investigation, Hikind alluded that the headstones had been targeted for nefarious reasons.
"More than 40 headstones were overturned. These stones were all in the same section where barbed-wire had been cut. Despite the fact that there are thousands upon thousands of graves stretching over many blocks, this was the only section where gravestones had been turned over," the statement said. "This area is less than 5% of the total cemetery grounds."
"So strong winds hit this section and left the other ones alone? I find that hard to believe. Something is definitely not kosher," the statement concluded.
ABC News' Brendan Rand contributed to this report.
