NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Jewish man was beaten and robbed on a Brooklyn street Thursday evening in what police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.
The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force released images Friday showing the suspect bolting into the Kingston Avenue 2/3/4/5 station in Crown Heights after the attack on the first night of Hanukkah.
The 40-year-old victim was standing on a sidewalk at Eastern Parkway and Albany Avenue at 7:35 p.m. when another man came up and repeatedly punched him in the head, police said.
The attacker hurled antisemitic insults at him as he snatched away his cellphone, according to police, who said the victim was wearing traditional Jewish clothing at the time of the attack.
The victim was transported to Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where he was listed in stable condition.
The assault comes amid a citywide spike in anti-Jewish hate crimes seen over the past two months during the Israel-Hamas war. The number of reported antisemitic crimes was up 32% in November, compared to November 2022, the latest NYPD crime stats show.
On Friday, the NYPD also said it was investigating a hate-motivated arson in Williamsburg, where a Jewish and Japanese fusion restaurant was targeted by an arsonist who burned down multiple Star of David banners.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
