A Tesla parked on the Upper East Side was found with a swastika carved into its hood on Tuesday morning, a jarring scene made even more unsettling by an Israeli flag visible on the back seat. The owner told police the car was parked around 10:30 a.m. and was left overnight, only to discover the scratched symbol the next morning. Neighbors, already tense after a spring filled with antisemitic graffiti across the city, say the incident has put them further on edge.
Police said the Tesla was parked on East 85th Street near First Avenue when the vandalism took place. Investigators told reporters they believe the Israeli flag in the back seat may have drawn the attacker’s attention. No arrests have been made, and the incident is being handled as possible bias-motivated vandalism. The details were first reported by the New York Daily News.
Police Data Shows Antisemitic Incidents Rising
According to the NYPD’s own figures, confirmed hate crimes are up this year, with 265 incidents logged through the end of May and 152 of them confirmed as anti-Jewish. Those numbers come from investigations by the department’s Hate Crime Task Force, which tracks and compiles bias incidents citywide, per the NYPD. The rising tally has drawn scrutiny from city officials as detectives juggle dozens of still-open hate-crime cases.
Part Of A Broader Pattern
The Upper East Side vandalism is the latest in a string of antisemitic incidents, following a spree in early May in Queens that left swastikas and Nazi imagery scrawled on synagogues, a Holocaust memorial plaque and private homes in Rego Park and Forest Hills. That rampage, which targeted Congregation Machane Chodosh among other locations, drew swift condemnation from local elected leaders and remains under investigation, as reported by JNS. Residents in those neighborhoods, many with sizable Jewish communities, say the repeated defacements are increasing fear and frustration.
Investigators Ask For Video And Tips
Detectives with the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force are leading the investigation into the Tesla vandalism and are asking anyone with video or information to contact police. There have been no arrests so far, and investigators will determine whether the evidence is strong enough to present charges to the Manhattan District Attorney. In the meantime, neighbors say they are combing through security-camera and doorbell footage in hopes of spotting whoever carved the swastika into the car.
