Pittsburgh Police Seek Suspects in Hate Crime Investigation
Pittsburgh police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying one or more suspects involved in a series of incidents of ethnic intimidation, harassment, and criminal mischief targeting a resident of the Mexican War Streets neighborhood.
The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, reported four separate incidents that occurred at or near her home this month.
On Friday, September 16, just before 10:30 a.m., a suspect wearing a white sweatshirt, beard, and glasses approached the victim’s property, tore down an Israeli flag, and threw it in the garbage. Two days later, on Sunday, September 18, a suspect pasted anti-Semitic, pro-Palestine pictures and propaganda all over the front door glass windows around 4 a.m. The same suspect then spray painted the message “For Blood and Soil” — a nationalist slogan used in Nazi Germany — on the entire sidewalk in front of the house.
Earlier in the month, on September 1, the victim received anti-Semitic and pro-Palestinian literature, photos, and a handwritten note in her mailbox. She also had an Israeli flag stolen from her property. On another occasion, a different Israeli flag was stomped on and defaced with the message “We Demand Blood.” Officials said the flag was later found in a nearby alley.
Police shared several photos and a video of the suspect or suspects. Officials said they were uncertain whether it was the same person.
Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh Police Zone 1 at 412-323-7201 or dial 911.
