Tuesday, February 5, 2008

7online.com: Cemetery Headstones Vandalized in Ozone Park Queens

Read original...

Numerous headstones were vandalized at a Jewish cemetery in the Ozone Park section of Queens.

A worker is believed to have discovered the vandalism at the Mokom Sholom cemetery at 80-07 Pitkin Avenue Tuesday morning.

Authorities say at least 20 headstones were initially reported vandalized, but the final number is expected to be higher.

It was not clear if headstones were knocked over or defaced with swastikas, or both.

No arrests were immediately made.

Detectives from the 106th Precinct are in the preliminary stages of investigation. The cemetery's top official was contacted overseas and told of the vandalism.

The Mokom Sholom cemetery was founded in 1865 by Congregation Darech Amuno, which is now on Charles Street in Lower Manhattan.

It is currently being managed by David Jacobson, the head of United Hebrew Congregation.

(Copyright ©2008 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)