A woman in New York accused of screaming slurs at a Punjabi father and son she believed were Palestinian turned herself in Tuesday, reports AM New York.
Police say 48-year-old Hadasa Bozakkaravani screamed anti-Palestinian slurs and poured hot coffee on the father and 18-month-old son.
According to Gothamist, Ashish Prashar said he was watching his son at a playground when Bozzakkaravani approached him and asked him if he supported Hamas.
He said she called him and his son terrorists and Arabs “dogs” who “burned babies in ovens.”
When he began filming, she threw the coffee on both him and his son. A friend posted the video Prashar shot on Instagram.
The father says he has since received 6,000 messages of support.
“I know there will be a day where I’ll have to explain this to [my son],” Prashar said to Gothamis. “I’ll tell him, ‘You are no less human than any other person, and the world is full of love.”
Police identified the suspect and neighbors posted photos of the suspects around the neighborhood.
“A lot of investigative work went into this case to identify her. Some CrimeStopper tips, some good computer work in the area led us to a building that we believe she lived in and based on that we were able to get good identification,” Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said to AMNY. “The whole neighborhood was blanketed with her pictures, numerous Crimestoppers tips.”
Bozakkaravani faces nine charges including four hate crime charges, FOX5 reports.
The number of hate incidents investigated by the New York Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force jumped 124 percent last month. They’ve received reports of 8 anti-Muslim crimes and have also seen a 214 percent increase in antisemitic incidents over the same time last year.
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