LAKEWOOD, NJ – Two pickup trucks in Lakewood Township, New Jersey approached a group of Jewish residents walking down the street, sped off and seconds later, an explosion was seen nearby.
Police in Lakewood said today that nobody was injured in the incident, and the individuals were about 50 to 100 feet away from an incendiary device that was tossed from the window of one of the vehicles.
The frightening incident occurred on Saturday as residents were observing the Sabbath in this predominantly Orthodox Jewish enclave in the vicinity of Squankum Road and Shafto Road
Residents called police and reported an explosion and the presence of smoke. Officer Daniel Spagnuolo was promptly dispatched to the scene to assess the situation.
“Upon arrival, Officer Spagnuolo was approached by a concerned local resident who claimed to have witnessed two vehicles traveling at a slow pace along Squankum Road just moments before a loud explosion occurred,” the department said today.
The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, provided crucial details to aid in the investigation.
Police investigating the matter found a nearby video surveillance camera that showed the incident in its entirety.
The two trucks slowly pulled alongside the group of individuals, then fled. Seconds later an explosion was heard just feet from where they crossed the street.
It is not clear whether or not the incident is being investigated as a hate crime or not.
The Lakewood Scoop, a Lakewood-based online news website, shared the video to YouTube. The video shows the explosion reaching as high as thirty feet in the air and a smoke cloud approximately twenty feet in diameter.
The footage obtained from a nearby home surveillance system revealed that two pickup trucks, one light-colored and the other dark-colored, were observed traveling in tandem towards the south on Squankum Road. The trucks came to a stop near a small wooded area, and after a brief pause, an individual from one of the vehicles hurled a lit object into the wooded section.
Shortly thereafter, the object detonated, causing the explosion. Two pedestrians were in close proximity, approximately 50 to 100 feet away, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Detectives are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist in the ongoing inquiry. Those with relevant details are encouraged to contact Det. Kevin Donnelly at the Lakewood Police Department on extension 5346 or by dialing 732-363-0200.