New York, NY, September 20, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it was concerned by recent acts of anti-Semitic vandalism discovered at Long Island Railroad (LIRR) stations.

According to reports, a swastika was found the afternoon of September 19 carved into a seat on a LIRR train car that left from Atlantic Terminal. This incident was preceded by the reported arrest of two teenagers on September 5, who allegedly spray painted a red swastika at a station in Long Beach.

“We are concerned that some Long Island Railroad stations have become the target of anti-Semitic vandalism,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “We commend LIRR authorities for treating this incident ‘very seriously’ and for taking the car out of service for repairs. No LIRR commuter should be subjected to such hate.”

Mr. Bernstein added, “It’s important to note that while such imagery is deeply troubling, no known pattern of anti-Semitism exists on Long Island.”

In 2015, ADL voiced concern over similar incidents with swastikas drawn which occurred in Cedarhurst and Lawrence.

According to ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, which tracks both criminal and non-criminal acts of anti-Semitism, Long Island documented 52 incidents in 2015, including 21 in Nassau and 31 in Suffolk counties.