The New York Police Department is investigating an attack on a young Sikh man in Queens as a hate crime. They are also asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
According to ABC 7, the 19-year-old victim was riding an MTA shuttle bus around 9 a.m. on Sunday near 118th Street and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill. During his ride, the suspect approached him.
The suspect allegedly told the teenager, who was wearing a turban, “We don’t wear that in this country.”
The suspect then punched the victim several times and attempted to remove his turban.
Afaf Nasher, Executive Director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), issued a statement condemning the attack:
“We condemn this apparently bias-motivated hate crime assault against the Sikh community. We pray that the victim of this violent assault recovers quickly and heals from this trauma. We also support the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force investigation of the attack, and hope the alleged assailant is apprehended swiftly before harming anyone else.”
Nasher also expressed concern about an increase in hate incidents over the past week.
“However, once again we are seeing hatred and ignorance spinning their ugly heads just like post 9/11. Incendiary one-sided statements from public officials have consequences and that is evident in what is happening in the streets,” Nasher said.
Police are still searching for the suspect. According to PIX 11, they believe that the suspect is between 25 to 35 years old. He is around 5’9″ with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a yellow bubble jacket, blue jeans and sneakers.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visit crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, download the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or text 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
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