Police in upstate New York have arrested four teens on aggravated harassment and hate crimes charges stemming from two recent antisemitic incidents.

The teens were arrested in the town of Ramapo, near to the predominately Orthodox Jewish enclave of Monsey.

According to the Ramapo Police, on April 19, at 9 p.m., two 17-year-old males were in a car when the passenger “shot a water pellet gun” at Jewish individuals walking along the road. One person was struck, but uninjured. The police said the teens shouted antisemitic slurs before speeding away.

The antisemitic incidents occurred on two consecutive Friday nights, and as a detective told the Jewish Chronicle, the “victims were targeted due to their attire and religion.”

One week later, on Friday, April 26, four teens in the same car targeted Jewish pedestrians. In that instance, one of the passengers tossed rubbish at one of the individuals out walking. The garbage hit him in the leg, but he was not injured. The teens then yelled antisemitic slurs and “fled the scene at a high rate of speed,” according to the police announcement.

Police say that in the course of the investigation they determined that the driver and passenger allegedly involved in the April 19 incident were also allegedly involved in the second incident. In that instance, they were allegedly joined by two 18-year-old males.

None of the names have been released due to the ages of the alleged perpetrators.

Ethan Erlich, director of security for the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County, said, praised the work of the Ramapo Police.

“Across the country, we’ve been tracking a dramatic and alarming increase in threats andincidents against the Jewish community since October 7. While the recent incidents in theMonsey area are incredibly disturbing, we are lucky to have law enforcement partners who worknonstop to ensure the safety of the entire community,” Ehrlich said. “We’re grateful for the swift and professional work of the Ramapo Police Department in this case.”

All of the teens were released pending a future court date.

In 2019, Monsey was the site of a mass stabbing at a rabbi’s house during Chanukah where a man died of his wounds.