Dozens of young people stormed a Brooklyn deli over the weekend, knocking over shelves of food and drinks before running back out, surveillance video shows.
The large group of teenagers rushed into Gourmet Butcher on Carroll Street and Troy Avenuein Crown Heights at about 9 p.m. Saturday, knocked down merchandise and shelves, then left, video obtained by the blog CrownHeights.info shows.
Owner Yanki Klein and workers inside appeared to be caught off-guard before one retrieved a broom from the back of the store and chased the group out.
"It is scary, it is something to be worried about," Klein said.
Police responded and took a report. They say a 23-year-old man reported being assaulted in the incident and are investigating. Klein said his brother was punched in the commotion.
The owner of the deli says groups of teens have come into his store in the past screaming anti-Semitic language.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said that the recent crimes against members of the Jewish community show a disturbing trend.
Local
"There seems to be some hateful components and the police department is going to do their investigation to determine exactly how it should be handled," he said.
He added, "We want to really use this period during the Sukkot holiday to say we cannot have hate of any form in our borough."
Police say there is no indication that this particular incident was a hate crime and detectives are not investigating it as one.
