Man arrested after spraying unknown substance at victims, yelling ‘Gas the Jews’ in front of DC synagogue: report

A 33-year-old man allegedly sprayed an unknown substance at two victims as he yelled “Gas the Jews” in front of a Washington, DC synagogue Sunday morning, according to police and a report.

Brent Wood is accused of spraying the two victims as he shouted the antisemitic phrase outside the Kesher Israel Congregation around 9:30 a.m., authorities said.

He allegedly yelled, “Gas the Jews” as he deployed the foul-smelling substance, sources told NBC 4 Washington.

No injuries were reported, and it’s unclear if the victims were connected to the synagogue.

The suspect was arrested and his car was examined as a precaution, but no hazardous materials were found, Metro Police said.

Wood, who’s from Toledo, Ohio, was taken into custody and charged with simple assault and resisting arrest.

The incident is being investigated as a possible hate or bias crime, authorities said.

The classification of a crime can be changed at any point as more information is gathered, according to Metro Police. Still, even if it is later deemed a hate crime by investigators, it does not mean prosecutors will automatically prosecute it as one, police noted. 

The attack comes amid a rise in both antisemitic and Islamophobic across the nation linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.