FALL RIVER, Mass (WBZ NewsRadio) — Authorities in Fall River say that 59 gravestones were defaced with a with anti-Semitic graffiti at Hebrew Cemetery.
That’s about twice as many as initially thought Fall River Police say.
Of those 59, two had been knocked over.
The stones were defaced with swastikas and phrases including "Expel the Jew" and "Hitler was right" in what appeared to be black marker.
Robert Trestan of the Anti-Defamation League of New England says the attack was harmful for multiple reasons:
“This really an attack on not just their memories and their families but to the Jewish people,” he said.
Fall River Police say they came up with the higher number after a row by row inspection of the cemetery
Police were alerted on Sunday by a cemetery maintenance worker.
Authorities are treating it as a hate crime and are actively investigating
The Herald News reports that rewards totaling $12,500 are being offered for information that leads to an arrest, including $10,000 given anonymously to Congregation Adas Israel, a city synagogue.
The Associated Press and TTWN Contributed to this report.