NY Man Threatens to Burn Down Bagel Shop If They Don’t Remove Israeli Flags

A New York man reportedly threatened to burn down a bagel shop in Queens if they didn’t remove Israeli flags.

The New York Daily News reported that the suspect walked into Bagels & Co. and told a worker and some patrons: “Remove those Israeli flags and shut the business down, or I’ll burn the building down.” The New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Hate Crimes Task Force tweeted out security footage of the suspect and asked the public for any information about the suspect.

On 11/10/21 at approx. 3:40 PM, at a bagel store, at 188-02 Union Turnpike @NYPD107Pct, an individual, while recording on a📱, told an employee and customers that he would burn the building down if the store didn't close and remove 🇮🇱 flags. Info?☎️1-800-577-TIPS. @NYPDDetectives pic.twitter.com/hfChdUX08j

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) November 16, 2021

Anti-Defamation League New York / New Jersey Regional Director Scott Richman said in a statement that the suspect’s threat was “a brazen act designed to instill fear & terror, especially given that most Jews in America hold #Israel as integral to their identity.”

“Threatening to #bomb a bagel shop bc it displays an #Israeli flag is a brazen act designed to instill fear & terror, especially given that most Jews in America hold #Israel as integral to their identity.” – Dir. @scottarichman
We urge anyone w/ info to contact us or @NYPDTips. https://t.co/Ub8MI0ZBDA

— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) November 16, 2021

Kentucky Chabad of Bluegrass Co-Director Rabbi Shlomo Litvin, who also chairs the Kentucky Jewish Council, tweeted, “This is a perfect example of the Anti-Zionist/Antisemitic ideology. The flags must come down. ([T]he state must fall) And then the business must shut down. (Our people must fall) Thankfully, neither is gonna happen.”

This is a perfect example of the Anti-Zionist/Antisemitic ideology.

The flags must come down. (the state must fall)

And then the business must shut down. (Our people must fall)

Thankfully, neither is gonna happen. https://t.co/KlGBbxmrMg

— Rabbi S Litvin (@BluegrassRabbi) November 16, 2021

Israeli writer Hen Mazzig tweeted, “Whoever needs to hear this: Burning down a Jewish business is antisemitic and evil. Burning down a Jewish business because you hate Israel is still antisemitic and evil.”

Whoever needs to hear this:

Burning down a Jewish business is antisemitic and evil.

Burning down a Jewish business because you hate Israel is still antisemitic and evil. https://t.co/vwzNe8MMSa

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) November 16, 2021