Police stepping up patrols near L.A. synagogues following violent attack at Hanukkah celebration in NYC
People hold signs of support near the house of Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg on December 29, 2019 in Monsey, New York. - An intruder stabbed and wounded five people at a rabbi's house in New York during a gathering to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukk
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police say they are increasing patrols near Jewish synagogues in the area "out of an abundance of caution'' after a man stabbed five people celebrating Hanukkah in New York.
"The LAPD stands with members of our Jewish community,'' Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted Sunday. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have increased patrols in and around Jewish communities and places of worship in response to last night's horrific anti-Semitic attack in New York. There is no place for hate in Los Angeles.''
Local Jewish leaders also spoke out against the attack.
"This ongoing epidemic of anti-Semitic attacks needs to be treated. Enough is Enough. Jews should not have to fear for their lives in America to go their houses of worship,'' said Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of L.A.'s Simon Wiesenthal Center, who is planning to urge President Trump to instruct the FBI to create a special task force to look into attacks against Jews and their religious institutions.
Saturday night's attack at the home of a Hasidic rabbi in Monsey, a New York City suburb, sent five people to the hospital, with one reportedly in critical condition.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, visiting the rabbi's home on Sunday morning, called the attack an "act of domestic terrorism.''
A 38-year-old suspect was later arrested in Harlem in connection with the attack.