The recent attack on Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s Washington Heights office by anti-Israel vandals has shocked the community. Exclusive surveillance footage obtained by The Post shows two hooded and masked individuals lifting a roller door to begin their destructive rampage. The thugs were seen hammering at glass windows and saturating the area with blood-red spray paint before abruptly leaving the scene.
Congressman Espaillat arrived the following morning to find shattered glass, pools of red paint, and the words “FREE GAZA” scrawled on the sidewalk. This was not the first time Espaillat has been targeted by anti-Israel groups, as he had been named on a flier for a protest on Oct 7. Despite being aware of the potential threat, Espaillat was saddened by the violent and vandalistic actions taken against his office.
Police and Espaillat confirmed that up to four suspects were involved in the attack, although the surveillance footage only captured two individuals. The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, and it was reported at 4:15 a.m., although Espaillat believes it occurred around 3 a.m. The congressman and his staff have been working tirelessly to clean up the mess, with the five staff members left shaken by the ordeal.
This was the second attack on Espaillat’s office, with the previous incident occurring on Sept 27 when the office was spray-painted by a vandal. The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating both cases to bring the perpetrators to justice. The vandalism comes amidst heightened tensions in the region following Hamas terrorists’ attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 innocent Israelis and the hostage-taking of 250 individuals, with 97 still held captive in Gaza.
In response to the recent events, thousands of anti-Israel protesters flooded Manhattan, with groups like Within Our Lifetime leading demonstrations in various locations. Seven protesters were arrested during the demonstrations, including a 23-year-old man from New Jersey accused of kicking an NYPD captain. While two individuals were released with summonses, the remaining five are facing charges that will require court arraignments. The incidents highlight the ongoing tensions and conflicts surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, with advocates on both sides expressing their views through protests and demonstrations.
