Woman suspected of hate-crime vandalism after crashing vehicle through the gates at California synagogue

A 54-year-old woman was arrested for suspected hate-crime vandalism after using a vehicle to crash through the gates of a Tarzana synagogue early Thursday, Nov. 9, police said.

Around 12:30 a.m., a vehicle plowed through two gates at the Eretz Synagogue and Cultural Center, located along the 6100 block of Wilbur Avenue, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Angie Moran. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.

The woman was found near the site of the crash two hours later and was taken into custody, Moran said. The woman was being held on a $25,000 bail.

Information on a motive, or why authorities suspected the crime to be hate-related, was not immediately available on Thursday.

Tensions have been high across the country over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as a result of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, with pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking part in major cities.

Hamas terrorists have been condemned for invading Israel and killing and kidnapping civilians while Israel has been accused of indiscriminate bombing that has killed thousands of civilians in Gaza.

On Sunday, a Jewish man was knocked backward while in a fight with one or more counter-protesters during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, striking his head on ground. The man, Paul Kessler, died in the hospital on Monday from his injuries, and a 50-year-old Moorpark man was being investigated in the death.