Crime & Safety

Men Indicted In Synagogue Firebombings

Anthony Graziano, of Lodi, and Aakash Dalal, of New Brunswick, remain in Bergen County Jail since they were first charged in connection with a series of arson and bias attacks at a number of Bergen County synagogues.

Two men charged last year in series of arson and bias attacks on Bergen County synagogues have been indicted in connection with the firebombings, authorities said Friday.

The 30-count indictment charges Anthony M. Graziano of Lodi, a 2010 graduate of Hasbrouck Heights High School, and Aakash A. Dalal of New Brunswick, formerly of Lodi, with fire bombings, arson and bias related incidents which occured between Dec. 11, 2011 and Jan. 11, 2012 in Paramus, Rutherford, Maywood and Hackensack.

The indictment includes nine counts for the attempted murder of Rabbi Neil Schumann and his family, and the associated fire bombing of the Temple Beth El Synagogue in Rutherford.

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It also charges the pair with the Jan. 3, 2012 firebombing of Temple K'Hal Adath Jushrun in Paramus, and the attempted arson of the Jan. 7, 2012 Jewish Community Center in Paramus. It includes bias intimidation offenses at Temple Beth Israel in Maywood and Temple Beth El in Hackensack.

Graziano has been charged with nine counts of first degree attempted murder, three counts of first degree bias intimidation, three counts of first degree conspiracy to commit arson upon a synagogue, and three counts of aggravated arson, according to the prosecutor's office.

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Dalal is charged with three counts of first degree bias intimidation, three counts of first degree conspiracy to commit arson upon a synagogue and two counts of first degree aggravated arson.

Additional charges they face include hindering apprehension and possession of destructive devices.

Both Graziano and Dalal have pled not guilty.

Graziano and Dalal remain at the Bergen County Jail with bail set at $2.5 million and $5.5 million dollars respectively, according to the prosecutor's office. 

Dalal, who was a Rutgers college student, allegedly taught Graziano how to make the Molotov cocktails used in the firebombings, according to Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli. He has said the two have known each other since middle school.

While Dalal wasn't present for the two firebombing incidents and a third attempt at the Jewish Community Center in Paramus, Molinelli has said Dalal played a direct role in showing Graziano how to carry out the attacks and in encouraging him to do so.

 


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