Man Arrested for Allegedly Spraying Unknown Substance and Shouting Antisemitic Phrase in Washington DC

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN

(CNN) — A man was apprehended and charged in Washington DC on Sunday after allegedly spraying an unidentified substance at two individuals while uttering an antisemitic remark, as stated by the police.

Officers promptly responded to a Northwest DC vicinity just before 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, locating and subsequently arresting the suspect, according to a statement issued by the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department. The incident took place in close proximity to the Kesher Israel Congregation synagogue.

The suspect has been identified as Brent Wood, a 33-year-old individual with a last known address in Toledo, Ohio. He has been taken into custody and charged with simple assault and resisting arrest, as stated in the official statement made by the police.

“The Metropolitan Police Department is treating this offense as a hate crime,” the statement further added.

CNN is currently investigating whether Wood has legal representation at this time.

This arrest occurs during a period of heightened tension as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues. In the months following Hamas’ attack on October 7th and amidst Israel’s ongoing blockade of the enclave, there has been a surge in reports of hate crimes and bias incidents targeting Jews, Muslims, and Arabs across the United States, according to CNN.

The Anti-Defamation League has documented 2,031 incidents of antisemitism in the two months following the attack on October 7th. These incidents include cases of physical assault, vandalism, and “anti-Israel rallies that included classically antisemitic, anti-Zionist, and/or terror-supportive rhetoric.”

Additionally, both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have issued warnings that the ongoing conflict is likely to heighten the risk of violence during large public gatherings in the United States throughout the winter season. This includes events related to holidays, faith-based observances, and New Year’s Eve, as stated by the agencies. US authorities have observed an “increase in hoax bomb and active shooter threats targeting synagogues,” which are believed to aim at disrupting events and intimidating congregants, according to the federal agencies.

On the same day as the arrest in Washington DC, multiple synagogues in the city reported receiving threatening emails, as confirmed by the local police to CNN. However, there was no credible evidence of an imminent threat.

The authorities have stated that the threats made to the synagogues do not appear to be connected to the assault incident.

“Currently, there are no known credible threats, nor any intelligence indicating intent by any groups to attack or disrupt any religious or social institutions in the District of Columbia,” the police informed CNN in a statement when asked about the threats.

Nevertheless, the police have announced an “increased visibility” around places of worship in the city to ensure the safety of the community.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has also reported a troubling increase in requests for assistance and incidents of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias since the start of the conflict.

Following a significant surge in bias incidents during the first month of the Israel-Hamas war, the advocacy group has received 2,171 requests for help and reports of bias at its national headquarters and chapters across the country since October 7th. These reports encompass hate crimes, hate speech, and instances of workplace discrimination.

CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz and Chelsea Bailey contributed to this report.