NEW YORK
The Journal News
Jordan Fenster, jfenster@lohud.com May 12, 2016
The FBI is raiding several locations in Kiryas Joel, a small, predominantly ultra-Orthodox village in Monroe, in Orange County.
Here are five things you should know about Kiryas Joel and those raids:
1. The reason for the raids is not yet clear
Reports from the scene on social media claim that about seven FBI agents — and as many as 15 — gained entrance to the United Talmudical Academy, a local yeshiva, about 10 a.m. along with local sheriff’s deputies.
The yeshiva is located at 16A Getzil Berger Blvd., and a Journal News reporter observed law enforcement officials carrying items out of the building.
Search warrants are also being executed the local public safety building.
2. There have been allegations of sexual abuse
Two videos surfaced earlier this month showing the principal of the United Talmudical Academy, a Kiryas Joel-based yeshiva, touching students in what some have called an inappropriate manner. The state police said they had opened an investigation, but the school’s board of directors issued a statement defending the principal’s actions.
“The school principal is seen embracing the students who were sent to his office for behavioral issues,” the statement read. “While this type of restraint may be unacceptable to some viewers, it in no way rises to the level of a criminal assault.”
It is unclear if the federal raids conducted Thursday are related to the videos or the state police investigation.
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