Three incendiary devices went off outside two rabbis’ homes near a Jewish religious center that lead to a small fire late Tuesday night.
The series of small explosions occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the Chabad Lubavitch of Rockland, at 315 N. Main St., Rabbi Avremel Kotlarsky said. Kotlarsky, the rabbi at the Chabad, said he found a firecracker wrapper in his yard, but wasn\’t sure exactly what caused the explosions.
Although no one was injured, Kotlarsky described the explosions as "coordinated" and a “premeditated hate crime.”
“The intent seemed to be that it was clear, whether they were looking to frighten, or looking to terrorize, or intimidate,” Kotlarsky said.
That evening, a group of about 15 people were gathered in the quarters of associate Rabbi Simcha Morgenstern, located in a two-family structure at the Jewish religious center on Phillips Hill Road.