Stole an Israeli flag and burned it at home: two brothers charged with a hate crime in New York

Two brothers from the city of Hornell in New York State were arrested and charged with a hate crime after allegedly stealing an Israeli flag from a pole outside a business and subsequently setting it on fire at their home.

The suspects are 28-year-old Cormac Thomas Banko and his 31-year-old brother, Declan Peter Banko. According to the Hornell Police, the two were arrested on Saturday at approximately 7:32 AM, following an investigation into the theft of the flag from a pole on Park Drive. The investigation revealed that the flag was taken to the house where the brothers reside, where it was set on fire.

Each of the brothers is charged with hate crimes of theft and criminal mischief, as well as tampering with evidence. Cormac Banko is also charged with resisting arrest. The two were transported to the Steuben County Jail and processed on the evening following their arrest.

Hornell is a small town in Steuben County in western New York State, about 90 kilometers south of Rochester. The city has a population of only about 8,000 people. In the past, it was known as an important railroad junction and earned the nickname "The Maple City," named after the maple trees that once covered its surroundings.

In the past, there was a small Jewish community in Hornell. The Orthodox synagogue Beth-El was established in the city in 1946, briefly transitioned to a Conservative format, and was later closed. The structure was recognized in 2016 as a national historic site. In 2022, it was targeted by neo-Nazis, who distributed propaganda materials, including swastikas, there and at two local churches.