The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is looking for two bigots on a CitiBike who assaulted Jewish people on a Brooklyn street Thursday night.
Both attacks, police said, occurred within the 90th Precinct‘s confines, at about 7:30 p.m. near the corner of Wallabout and Walton Streets in Williamsburg. The NYPD released images of the two suspects Saturday morning.
In the first assault, law enforcement agents reported, the duo rode up to a 43-year-old man in traditional Orthodox Jewish attire, and the passenger smacked the victim in the head from behind.
Seconds later, cops said, the suspects approached a 24-year-old woman, also in traditional Orthodox garb. Once again, the CitiBike passenger slapped the back of the victim’s head.
Following the assaults, the two bigots rode away in an unknown direction. Neither of the victims were physically injured, police said.
Through Aug. 13, according to the most recent CompStat report, the 90th Precinct logged a 25% drop in hate crimes year-to-date, from 12 last year to 9 so far in 2023.
Across New York City, antisemitic hate crimes were down about 20% through June 2023, the Jerusalem Post reported, a year after such hate crimes surged across America. Last year saw the worst outbreak of antisemitism in America in more than 40 years, with New York in the heart of the troubling surge, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Regarding Thursday’s hate crimes, anyone with information regarding the suspects’ whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
