Hochul announces more support for FBI terrorism task force as antisemitic crimes, threats spike in N.Y.

Nov. 13—Hochul directs $2.5 million, 10 state investigators to help FBI crack down on antisemitic crime in N.Y.

NEW YORK — After meeting with state law enforcement officials in Manhattan Monday, Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced that she has directed more staff to help the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force crack down on antisemitic threats and violence in New York.

Since the start of new hostilities between Hamas-controlled Gaza and Israel last month, incidents of antisemitic and Islamophobic threats, attacks or harassment have shot up across the country, especially in New York, which hosts the largest Jewish population in the world outside Israel.

Hochul, who has rallied behind Israel, has expressed concern about a number of high profile incidents of anti-Jewish extremism in New York as well as a number of anti-Muslim attacks and threats. Despite an early and ongoing call from a number of officials and religious leaders to keep things civil, and efforts to increase law enforcement focus on hate crimes and ideologically driven attacks related to the conflict, reports of antisemitic attacks have shot up across New York since Oct. 7.

"It's painful for me, as the governor of this great state that has been known for its diversity and how we celebrate different cultures, different religions, different viewpoints," Hochul said in a press briefing livestreamed Monday morning. "It's painful to see the cruelty with which New Yorkers are treating each other. Everywhere from college campuses to our streets, to our schools, to playgrounds, even as they're entering their houses of worship."

New York, as a major state with a number of high-profile locations across the state, has long been a major participant in the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, sending state-funded staff to FBI offices across the state to help combat terrorism and monitor threats.

On Monday, Hochul announced the state would send more police staff to the task force, using $2.5 million for the New York State Police to finance the hiring of 10 investigators for New York City, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. Those investigators will coordinate with the task force and state police operations.

On Monday, Hochul said her administration has directed law enforcement to increase monitoring of internet channels where attacks may be mentioned or where extremist views may grow.

"Our social media analysis unit has ramped up its monitoring to catch incitement of violence, direct threats to others, and all of this is in response to our desire, our strong commitment to ensure that not only will New Yorkers be safe, but they will feel safe, because personal security is about everything for them."