NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Police released a video on Friday of two suspects wanted in connection with spray-painting and smashing the glass of Rep. Adriano Espaillat's Upper Manhattan office with a hammer on the anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack.
Police said the incident was reported on Oct. 8, at around 3 a.m. when two unidentified victims spray painted the front gate and also used a hammer to damage the front glass of the office.
The vandals then fled on foot, traveling eastbound on 181 Street. No injuries were reported. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
Images also show paint on the front of the office on West 181st Street near Bennett Avenue, and "FREE GAZA" written on the sidewalk in black.
Espaillat has been a strong advocate for increased security funding at Jewish sites and has publicly supported Jewish students facing attacks at institutions like Columbia University.
Nearly two weeks ago, police responded to another incident in which a vandal spray-painted the windows and door of the same Espaillat office on Sept. 27.
"The latest outrageous vandalism occurred on a day of solemn reflection to mark one year since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, murdering 1,200 civilians, including over 40 American citizens, and taking 251 hostages, including 12 Americans," said a statement by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Hakeem Jeffries, Jamaal Bowman, Yvette Clarke, Dan Goldman, Tim Kennedy, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Joe Morelle, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pat Ryan, Tom Suozzi, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres and Nydia Velázquez.
