Man wanted for anti-Muslim crime spree in New York City
Thomas McDonald
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New York Police Department is searching for a man wanted for three separate attacks on Muslims, two of which left the victims injured.
Police say the man attacked a 38-year-old Muslim woman with a knife while shouting anti-Muslim statements at her around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. On June 20 police say the man assaulted a 31-year-old male and a 24-year-old female, punching them both, pulling off the woman’s hijab, and yelling anti-Muslim statements.
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An hour later, police believe the same man attacked another Muslim couple. A man and woman, again making anti-Muslim statements before punching them both.
The man struck again an hour later about a mile away from the previous incident. He harassed a 64-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman walking down the street. He followed the pair while making a number of anti-Muslim statements.
He then punched the woman multiple times in the face and head before fleeing, police said. The woman suffered a fractured nose and small lacerations to the head and face. She was taken to Jamaica Hospital.
The anti-Muslim crime spree comes as hate crimes in New York City are up 139% from last year, according to New York Police Department statistics. Hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are up 400% during the same time period.