A bomb squad in Lakewood, New Jersey, found and removed a grenade that was taped to a pole near a synagogue on Sunday morning, NBC Philadelphia reported.
According to police, at about 7:45 a.m. local time, the grenade was found strapped to utility pole at the intersection of Forest Avenue and 4th Street in Lakewood, near the Satmar Shul synagogue.
“The device was found to be inert and nonexplosive. There is no danger to the public and this remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement quoted by NBC Philadelphia.
Video shared by the by the Lakewood Scoop showed where the device was found before it was removed.
An investigation into this incident is ongoing.
While it has yet to be determined whether the incident is related to antisemitism, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitic hate crimes in the US since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Last week, headstones at a Jewish cemetery on Cleveland’s west side were found spray painted with red swastikas.
Previously, a Los Angeles woman was charged with hate crimes after ramming her vehicle through the gate of a local synagogue and cultural center.
In another incident, a 21-year-old student was charged with assault after he punched one person and slammed the thumb of another during a pro-Israel demonstration at New York University’s main library.