The discovery of a swastika on a wall of San Francisco’s largest synagogue on the night of Pesach is being investigated as a hate crime, authorities said Monday. Someone apparently used blue spray paint to apply a 10-inch symbol on a wall of Temple Emanu-El on Lake Street as early as Sunday.

A passer-by noticed the swastika Monday and notified the congregation at about 11 a.m. Temple officials called police, who took pictures of the swastika before it was painted over.

San Francisco police spokesman Neville Gittens said, “It is being investigated as a hate crime.”

In a statement Monday, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said, “San Francisco’s largest Jewish temple was defaced with a symbol of hatred on the eve of Passover. San Francisco is known as a city that embraces people of all faiths. We strongly condemn this act of hatred and intolerance.”

(Source: SF Gate)