New York City police are searching for a woman who allegedly "made anti-Jewish statements" to a group of children before spitting on them, authorities said Wednesday.
The ugly incident unfolded at 12:35 p.m. Friday in front of 4017 Avenue P in the Flatlands neighborhood of southeast Brooklyn, the NYPD said in a statement.
Surveillance video captured a woman in an orange sweatshirt who allegedly “approached an 8-year-old and two other children, made anti-Jewish statements, then spat on the them,” according to the police statement.
There had been no arrests by midday Thursday, police said.
City Councilwoman Farah Louis, who represents that neighborhood, said she was horrified by the incident.
"It's beyond gross. It's disrespectful that this woman would do this to a child, an innocent little boy," Louis said Thursday.
"It's a predominantly Jewish neighborhood ... so yes, she definitely knew what she was doing, this heartless disrespectful individual."
Jewish communities across America have been on heightened alert in recent days, following the armed takeover of a synagogue near Dallas on Saturday.
In the wake of the deadly Texas standoff, rabbis and other leaders are wrestling with the ethical dilemma of just how open synagogues should be with potential threats just outside their doors.
