Vashon Island, WA – Sheriff’s deputies are searching for whoever broke into a synagogue here and scrawled racial slurs and swastikas on the walls.

Sgt. John Urquhart said the vandalism at Havurat Ee Shalom occurred over the weekend and was discovered Sunday morning by worshipers.

Urquhart said the break-in likely involved more than one person and, due to the crude attempts at drawing swastikas, juveniles were likely to blame.

“The word is going to get out on Vashon about which kids did this and obviously we’d like anyone who hears about it to call us,” Urquhart said. “This is the type of thing that reeks of kids out there with too much time on their hands and getting into trouble. That doesn’t make it any less serious.”

The anti-Semitic graffiti was no less shocking just because it may have been placed by young people.

In an interview with the Vashon Beachcomber, congregation member Chaim Rosemarin said it was important to let the community know what happened.

“It’s upsetting; it’s a little bit scary to know that people like that are out there,” he told the newspaper. “It’s tremendously shocking. Different faith communities have always gotten along very well on the Island. We hope that it’s an isolated incident.”

Urquhart said those responsible could be charged with burglary and malicious harrassment, the state’s hate crime statute.

(Source: Komo News)