The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) praised the Niagara Falls Police Department, the�FBI, and the Niagara County’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for the arrests of two teenagers suspected of repeatedly vandalizing a local synagogue.

Michael S. Blount, 18, and a juvenile yesterday were charged with felony hate crimes and criminal mischief in several bias-related incidents against the synagogue during a six-month period.

“We applaud law enforcement for making this investigation a priority and for pursuing hate crime charges against the perpetrators,” said Joel J. Levy, ADL New York Regional Director.� “Hate crimes, be it an attack on an individual or a communal institution, can have an impact far beyond those immediately affected. Such crimes have the potential to unsettle an entire community. The message from Niagara law enforcement is clear � that any attack targeting minority group in Niagara Falls is unacceptable and will have consequences.”

Vandals have repeatedly targeted Temple Beth Israel for the past two years.� On January 12, the message “kill the Jews” was duct-taped on a door to the Niagara Falls temple.

(Source: ADL)