New York mayor criticized for tweet about packed Jewish funeral

Bill de Blasio expresses regret for tweet after intervening when hundreds gathered for a funeral for a rabbi who died of Covid-19: 'I spoke out of distress'

New York City's mayor, Bill de Blasio, personally oversaw the dispersal of a large, tightly packed Hasidic Jewish funeral on Wednesday, lashing out at the conduct of mourners, sparking angry counter-criticism from community leaders.

In a tweet, the mayor called the large processional "absolutely unacceptable", and vowed to bring social gatherings such as that event to an end while movements are still restricted by coronavirus measures.