Vandals deface New York City synagogue with pink swastika

— -- New York City police are searching for three suspects caught on surveillance video defacing a Manhattan synagogue by spray painting it with a pink swastika.

The NYPD released surveillance video revealing close-up shots of three male suspects, all wearing baseball caps and hooded sweatshirts, who allegedly painted the symbol on the Sutton Place Synagogue on East 51st Street around 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, police said.

At least one of the suspects, police said, tagged a prominent pink swastika on the door, before the men "fled the location in an unknown direction."

The swastika has since been removed, but the incident is being investigated as an aggravated harassment crime, police said.

In a statement, the synagogue's rabbi, Rachel Ain, deplored the vandalism.

"It is hard to believe and extremely hurtful to think that someone walks around with that level of hatred in their heart," Ain said. "The only way to combat hatred is to stand together, pray together and love each other."