Pair Charged in Synagogue Bombings Plead Not Guilty

Two men who face charges in a series of arson and bias attacks on area synagogues early last year, pleaded not guilty in Superior Court Monday, according to a Northjersey.com report.

The pair was handed a 30-count incictment in March which charges Anthony M. Graziano of Lodi, a 2010 graduate of Hasbrouck Heights High School, and Aakash A. Dalal of New Brunswick, formerly of Lodi, with fire bombings, arson and bias related incidents. The incidents allegedly occurred between Dec. 11, 2011 and Jan. 11, 2012 in Paramus, Rutherford, Maywood and Hackensack.

Both face charges including multiple counts of aggravated arson, conspiracy and bias intimidation.

Graziano is also charged with attempted murder of Rabbi Neil Schumann and his family in the associated fire bombing of the Temple Beth El Synagogue in Rutherford.

It is alleged the pair worked together with Graziano carrying out the attacks that Dalal helped and encouraged him to execute, according to previous reports from Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli.

The two continue to remain at the Bergen County Jail each held on several million dollars bail.