NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force launched an investigation after a trio of teens harassed a Hasidic man in Manhattan Thursday evening, snatching his hat, and demanding he yell out, “Free Palestine!” to get it back, officials said.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. at the intersection of West 43rd Street and 12th Avenue in Midtown, police said Friday.
According to authorities, the 20-year-old victim complied to the teens' demands, but they did not return his hat to him.
The group fled the scene on bicycles, officials added.