A police detective was pessimistic Wednesday about finding any solid leads in his investigation of the upsetting of about 100 tombstones Monday night in the Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Queens.
The Jewish cemetery, containing 78,000 graves, had suffered no significant vandalism in several years, according to a spokesman who declined to identify himself when the Jewish Telegraphic Agency called.
As no graffiti was found, he did not suspect anti-Semitism as a motive, and noted that nearby non-Jewish cemeteries also are victims. Vandalism, he said, “is almost impossible to stop.”
Detective Daniel Daly of the 104th Precinct said “it seems to be an isolated incident. There doesn’t seem to be any anti-Semitism.” He was not aware of any other incidents of vandalism at Mount Lebanon or any neighboring cemeteries.
Daly said police dusted the area for fingerprints and took aerial photos, but because of the nature of the crime, “It will be very difficult to find” the vandal or vandals. He suspected teenagers.
The Jewish Defense Organization sent about 25 people armed with licensed firearms and baseball bats to guard the cemetery Tuesday night and plans to continue the vigil, JDO leader Mordecai Levy told the JTA.
The cemetery spokesman said “There is no reason” for their presence. Daly cautioned against the use of vigilante tactics.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
