A 37-year-old Hasidic man was punched in the face on an E train in Queens Plaza in what police are investigating as a hate crime (Photo via Wikimedia Commons and Suspect NYPD)
Aug. 8, 2022 By Christian Murray
The police are looking for a man who allegedly punched a Hasidic Jewish man in the face while uttering anti-Semitic remarks on an E train at Queens Plaza late last month—in what cops are investigating as a hate crime.
The victim, a 37-year-old man, was punched without provocation while onboard a Manhattan-bound “E” train by a man at around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26. The suspect, while uttering anti-Hasidic remarks, punched the victim in the face causing a laceration to his lip. The victim was taken to Cornell Hospital in stable condition, while the suspect fled the scene.
The attack is part of a spike in transit crimes across the city. In July 2022, there was a 57 percent increase in transit crimes reported, compared to July 2021, the NYPD reported last week.
Police sketch of suspect (NYPD)
Attacks against Jews have also jumped. In July 2022, there were 15 anti-Semitic bias attacks, up from seven in July 2021.
In terms of the alleged Queens Plaza bias attack, police are looking for a man in his 30s who they describe as having a dark complexion, being around 5 feet 7 inches tall, and with black hair with braids. He was last seen wearing a white tan top.
Police have released video footage and photos of the suspect.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
