They stole an Israeli flag and burned it in their home: Two brothers charged with hate crime in New York

Two brothers from the town of Hornell in New York State were arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly stealing an Israeli flag from a pole outside a business and setting it on fire in their home. The suspects, aged 28 and 31, were arrested on Saturday morning. Each is charged with hate crime offenses of theft and criminal mischief, as well as tampering with evidence.

Two brothers from the town of Hornell in New York State were arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly stealing an Israeli flag from a pole outside a business and setting it on fire in their home. The suspects are Cormac Thomas Bancko, 28, and his brother Declan Peter Bancko, 31. According to Hornell Police, the two were arrested on Saturday around 7:32 a.m. following an investigation into the theft of the flag from a pole on Park Drive in the city. The investigation revealed that the flag was taken to the home where the brothers reside and was set on fire there. Each brother is charged with hate crime offenses of theft and criminal mischief, as well as tampering with evidence. Cormac Bancko is also charged with resisting arrest. The two were transferred to the Steuben County Jail. Hornell is a small town in western New York State, which once had a small Jewish community. The Orthodox synagogue in the town closed, and in 2022 it was targeted by neo-Nazis who distributed propaganda materials with swastikas there.