BREAKING NEWS

NY court sees synagogue attack as hate crime

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

MARCH 31, 2010 05:14

A person can be guilty of a hate crime even if the violence is directed at a building rather than a person, New York's top court ruled Tuesday.

The Court of Appeals unanimously said the stricter penalties imposed for such crimes apply to a man convicted of trying to bomb a Bronx synagogue in 2000.

"It is self-evident that, although the target of the defendant's criminal conduct was a building, the true victims were the individuals of Jewish faith who were members of the synagogue," Judge Victoria Graffeo wrote. She upheld rulings by the trial court and a midlevel court on a state statute enacted in 2000.

"The evidence in this case proved that defendant committed an attempted arson of the synagogue because of his anger toward a particular religious group," Graffeo wrote.

The attacker, 30-year-old Mazin Assi, is serving five to 15 years in prison.

UK sees almost 10% increase in hate crime referrals

By MICHAEL STARR

04/24/2024 12:37 PM

Ambrey is aware of an incident southwest of Yemen's Aden, advisory note

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 12:24 PM

Algerian Imam to be expelled from France for anti-Jewish sermons

By MICHAEL STARR

04/24/2024 12:11 PM

Iran, Pakistan call on UN security council to take action against Israel

By REUTERS