Statement of Agudath Israel of America on the Jersey City Shooting

Here is the full statement:

Agudath Israel of America and its constituents were heartbroken and outraged over the murders of three civilians and a police officer yesterday at a kosher market in Jersey City, N.J. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the innocent people who were killed, and we pray for the speedy recovery of those who were wounded in the brazen attack.

We commend the law enforcement teams that arrived so quickly at the scene of the shooting and whose members put their lives on the line to protect their fellow citizens.

That two of the murdered were Jews, that law enforcement officials have indicated that that the store had been targeted because of its Jewish connection, and that an anti-Semitic, anti-police manifesto was found in the vehicle the murderers had stolen only add to our anguish. And remind us of the ugly hatreds that run through the veins of evil people.
We must recognize the greater context in which this outrage occurred. Jews have been targeted in city streets, in their houses of worship and online. The increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents is alarming and needs to be urgently addressed.

We pray that the plans of all who would do our people harm be frustrated, and that all Americans be spared any future such senseless violence.