NYPD arrests woman who allegedly spit on Jewish boy, 8

The incident took place last Friday when the woman allegedly approached three children outside the Kehal Tiferes Avrohom Ziditshov Orthodox synagogue. Police said she shouted "anti-Jewish statements" before spitting on the boy and walking away.

By Nicole Chavez | CNN

The New York City Police Department has arrested a woman accused of spitting on an 8-year-old Jewish boy outside a Brooklyn synagogue last week, authorities said.

The woman, identified as 21-year-old Christina Darling, was charged with multiple counts including aggravated harassment as a hate crime, acting in a manner injurious to a child and menacing, the NYPD said on Friday. CNN has not been able to determine if Darling has legal representation.

The incident took place last Friday when the woman allegedly approached three children outside the Kehal Tiferes Avrohom Ziditshov Orthodox synagogue. Police said she shouted “anti-Jewish statements” before spitting on the boy and walking away.

The children were not injured, police said.

The children’s father, Aryah Fried, told CNN affiliate WCBS the woman said, “something along the lines of Hitler should have killed you all.”

Fried said his son responded to the woman saying he would save his little sister, prompting the suspect to spit on his face and say, “we will kill you all, I know where you live, and we’ll make sure to get you all next time.”

Several Jewish people have been attacked across the United States over the past year, some linked to the violent confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians outside Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque in May.

A day after the incident in New York, a man interrupted a Saturday’s Shabbat service at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, and held four people hostage for several hours. For the past week, Jewish communities across the country have remained vigilant by increasing security at synagogues and Jewish Community Centers.