By Noreen Ahmed-Ullah and Matthew Walberg, Chicago Tribune
Authorities investigating vandalism at area synagogues last month descended on a Far North Side apartment Thursday to interview a suspect and search for evidence, sources with knowledge of the investigation said.
Federal agents and Chicago police officers in the Joint Terrorism Task Force collected evidence for about nine hours at the residence in the 6000 block of North Artesian Avenue. No one had been charged by late Thursday.
Investigators were seeking evidence tied to the vandalism of several synagogues and Jewish schools in Chicago and Lincolnwood on Jan. 10 in the wake of Israeli airstrikes and troop incursions into the Gaza Strip. Windows were broken and “Death to Israel” and other anti-Israeli slogans were spray-painted on exterior walls.
Sources said a man of Jordanian descent who is suspected in the vandalism is also under investigation for sending written threats to Jewish institutions. Sources said the man lived in New York before moving to the West Rogers Park neighborhood about half a dozen years ago.
After the search had been completed and authorities had left, a resident at the apartment identified himself by name and told reporters that he was the target of the investigation. The man, 24, denied wrongdoing and said he had been singled out by authorities because he is Muslim.
When asked why authorities would target him in particular, the man said he had asked investigators the same question.
“I’m too busy studying and working to commit [hate crimes],” said the man, who indicated that he is attending school to be an engineer.
The Tribune is not naming him because he hasn’t been charged with a crime.
But the search resulted in misdemeanor charges of possession of cannabis against Tawfiq Alkaramla, 47, another resident of the apartment building, Chicago police said.
Investigators could be seen removing computer equipment from the building. Agents also seized a Chevrolet van and a Nissan SUV.
In addition to the recent vandalism, sources said, investigators were looking into whether a resident of the apartment was suspected of sending a threatening letter to Ida Crown Jewish Academy, an Orthodox Jewish high school at 2828 W. Pratt Blvd.
Rabbi Leonard Matanky, dean of the academy, told the Tribune that the school received a bomb threat Dec. 31.
Eli Azzo, 38, a neighbor of the apartment searched by law enforcement, said the suspect lives with his wife and baby as well as parents and a sister on the second floor.
“The family is nice,” Azzo said. “The guy is quick always to say hello. . . . They all seem like really nice people.”
Four synagogues and Jewish schools in Chicago and Lincolnwood were vandalized last month.
At Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, a rabbinical school and synagogue at 2756 W. Morse Ave., the phrase “Death to Israel” was spray-painted on an exterior brick wall. The same words appeared on the front door of Anshe Motele Congregation, 6526 N. California Ave.
Two windows were smashed at Young Israel Congregation of West Rogers Park, 2706 W. Touhy Ave. Glass doors were shattered and “Free Palestine” and “Death to Israel” were scrawled on walls at the Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, 7117 N. Crawford Ave.
Judy Alexander, an administrator at the Lincolnwood congregation, called the vandalism part of an unfortunate undercurrent in the area.
“You can catch one of these people, but there are five others,” Alexander said. “That’s the sad part.”
