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Oct 18, 2007 1:07 pm US/Eastern
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22 Swastikas Scrawled In Manhattan High School
'Hitler Is Back' Messages Also Found Written In Chalk Throughout School
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The recent rash of alleged hate crimes in New York City continued after 22 swastikas and other anti-Semitic statements were found scrawled throughout a high school in lower Manhattan.
News of the disturbing discoveries spread quickly Thursday at Murray Bergtraum High School in the Lower East Side, leaving many staff members and students rattled.
"Stuff like this never happens, so it's kind of scary," said Channell Anderson, a junior at the school.
John Elfrank-Dana, the local Chapter Leader for the United Federation of Teachers tells CBS 2 he was there when the messages were first discovered by a group of teachers yesterday afternoon.
According to Elfrank-Dana, the vandals left behind almost two dozen swastikas and the message "Hitler Is Back" written in green chalk on doors and other various spots in the school.
"I just think it's a bunch of kids who really have no lives. They got out of school and decided to play a little joke," said sophomore Kwamel Ayala.
Whatever the motive, the NYPD's hate crimes task force is now investigating. School officials say they are also looking into the incident, knowing some students could be behind the heinous crime.
"I don't think we want to empower the student too much by inadverantly giving them too much attention. But at the same time, it has to be addressed, it has to be addressed appropriately and swiftly," Elfrank-Dana said.
Memos were issued to students saying the crimes wouldn't be tolerated.
A similar message of hate was found in a Queens synagogue as well, yesterday. Police say swastikas were found spray painted on the board in front of a temple on Jewel Avenue and 169th Street in Kew Garden Hills.
The hate graffiti was also painted on the windows of a Hatzolah volunteer ambulance there.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said he doesn't believe any of the incidents are related, but could be copycat crimes. He added each case will be investigated fully and dealt with accordingly.
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force has also been investigating instances of nooses being left in various spots around the city, including on the door of a Columbia University professor, and by a post office near ground zero.
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.
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