UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Several windows at an Upper East Side bank were smashed and graffitied on Monday morning as local leaders call for an investigation.
According to the NYPD, a vandal smashed the windows of the Capital One bank at 247 East 86th St. near Second Avenue, around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.
The person also stenciled "PAL ACTION" and "DROP ELBIT" on the door, according to photos shared by New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
The stencil could be a reference to Palestine Action, which is a group that focuses on disrupting companies linked to the Israeli military, including a company called Elbit Systems.
The group has been designated as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom.
"The vandalism and destruction at the Capital One branch on 86th Street is deeply disturbing and unacceptable," Menin wrote. "I have been in contact with the NYPD regarding this incident and have urged an immediate investigation, including whether this is a potential antisemitic hate crime."
This is being investigated as a criminal mischief and possible bias incident, NYPD told Patch. Police said there are no injuries or arrests.
Upper East Side Councilmember Virginia Maloney also called the vandalism "disturbing."
"There is no place for hate or violence in our neighborhood, or anywhere in New York City," Maloney wrote.
The incident is under investigation by the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force, police said.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.
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