The NYPD is investigating an antisemitic graffiti spree in Brooklyn in which hateful messages and swastikas were spray-painted onto parked Jewish school buses Monday morning.
According to law enforcement sources, officers from the 90th Precinct responded to a 911 call just before 10 a.m. on Nov. 2 about an act off criminal mischief near Bedford Avenue and Williamsburg Street in Williamsburg.
Witnesses told officers that antisemitic writing and swastikas had been spray-painted in black on the side of four school buses. Photos show parked yellow school buses vandalized with spray-painted messages including “F–k Israel” and “Free Palestine.”
At least one photo shows a swastika spray-painted on the front hood of a bus.
The messages were painted above or on top of Hebrew lettering identifying the school bus operators.
SHOCKING: @WspuShomrim and the @NYPD90Pct are currently investigating a hate crime following the discovery of antisemitic graffiti spray-painted on several Jewish school buses. https://t.co/W5HhwVlKzy
— WILLIAMSBURG NEWS (@WMSBG) November 2, 2026
So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation remains ongoing by the department’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration is aware of the incident and in contact with the NYPD and community leaders.
“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. No Jewish New Yorker should have to live with the threat of hatred and intimidation,” Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, said. “Every Jewish New Yorker deserves to live openly and freely. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to confront antisemitism, hold those responsible accountable and ensure that hatred has no place in our city.”
Local elected officials condemned the incident and said they, too, were working with the NYPD to find those responsible for the hateful crime.
“Antisemitic attacks targeting schoolchildren is the lowest of the low,” Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said. “I hope the suspect is apprehended quickly and prosecuted to the fullest extent under our state and city hate crimes laws.”
Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, called attention to the increase in antisemitic attacks.
More than half of the confirmed hate crimes in NYC this year as of Sept. 30, or 52.9%, were anti-Jewish hate crimes, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up approximately 10% of the city’s population, according to the NYPD.
“Antisemitic graffiti on our community’s school buses is truly obscene,” Resler said. “We are working with NYPD and Shomrim to track down those responsible. The decade-long rise in antisemitic incidents must be stopped.”
Anyone with information regarding Monday’s 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.