The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating an act of vandalism at an Upper East Side bank on Monday morning in which windows were shattered and pro-Palestinian phrases were painted on the front doors.
Police said the incident of criminal mischief was reported at the Capital One bank located at 249 East 86th St. at about 7:40 a.m. on Oct. 19.
Officers from the 19th Precinct initially responded to reports of the vandalism. When they arrived, the cops discovered several front windows of the bank smashed, apparently with bricks.
Other windows and the front doors were defaced with graffiti messages stenciled in red paint with capital letters. One read, “PAL ACTION,” and the other “DROP ELBIT.”
According to ABC7, PAL ACTION may refer to the group Palestine Action, an organization based in the U.K. that is actively opposed to Israel and engages in what it calls “direct action” seeking to stop what it calls “genocide” in Gaza. The Trump Treasury Department declared Palestine Action as “a far-left terrorist network” earlier this year.
DROP ELBIT appears to refer to Elbit, an Israeli arms manufacturer. Pro-Palestine protestors have previously targeted Capital One for extending lines of credit to Elbit.
Menin: Upper East Side bank vandalism ‘deeply disturbing’
Though there were no reported injuries, Monday’s vandalism sparked alarm among local residents, including City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
“The vandalism and destruction at the Capital One branch on 86th Street is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” said Menin, who represents the neighborhood, in a social media post. “I have been in contact with the NYPD regarding this incident and have urged an immediate investigation, including whether this is a potential antisemitic hate crime. There is no place for hate, intimidation, or violence in New York City.”
The NYPD reported a 12.9% increase in hate crimes citywide through Sept. 30, from 410 last year to 463 this year. More than half of those incidents, 245 (52.9% of the total), were anti-Jewish hate crimes, the department said.
So far, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation into Monday’s vandalism, police reported.
Anyone with information regarding the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
