New York man charged with federal hate crimes for assaulting Jewish folks: DOJ

[ad_1] A New York man was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with federal hate crimes after he repeatedly assaulted Jewish counterprotesters at anti-Israel protests in New York Metropolis between 2024 and 2025, in accordance with an indictment unsealed by the Department of Justice.

Tarek Bazrouk, 20, is dealing with three counts of committing hate crimes for allegedly focusing on and assaulting Jewish folks at three NYC protests associated to the continuing struggle between Israel and Hamas.

Bazrouk was arrested in spite of everything three cases, however "remained undeterred and rapidly returned to utilizing violence to focus on Jews in New York Metropolis," in accordance with U.S. Lawyer Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York.

The primary occasion befell on April 15, 2024, when Bazrouk – who the DOJ mentioned was sporting a inexperienced headband "usually worn by Hamas terrorists" – allegedly attended a protest outdoors the New York Inventory Alternate in Lower Manhattan.

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A New York man is dealing with three federal hate crime prices for his alleged deliberate assaults on Jewish demonstrators at separate protests associated to the Israel and Hamas struggle in NYC since April 2024. (Jennifer Mitchell for Fox Information Digital)

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2021/05/1200/675/new-york-times-square-israel-paletine7.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Supporters of the Palestinians march in New York Thursday, May 20, 2021. Israel and Hamas announced a cease-fire, ending a bruising 11-day war that caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and brought life in much of Israel to a standstill. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)" width="1200" height="675"/> Supporters of the Palestinians march in New York Thursday, Might 20, 2021. Israel and Hamas introduced a cease-fire, ending a bruising 11-day struggle that triggered widespread destruction within the Gaza Strip and introduced life in a lot of Israel to a standstill. (AP Photograph/Craig Ruttle) (AP)

He was arrested by the NYPD for lunging at a gaggle of pro-Israel protesters, the DOJ mentioned, and kicked a Jewish school scholar within the abdomen whereas being taken to a patrol car. The individual he kicked was standing close to Jewish protesters who have been sporting kippahs on their heads, waving Israeli flags and singing Jewish songs.

Bazrouk allegedly assaulted one other Jewish scholar on Dec. 9, 2024, throughout a protest close to a college in Higher Manhattan, the DOJ mentioned. The second sufferer was along with his brother – each have been sporting kippahs – and had an Israeli flag draped throughout his shoulders whereas singing Jewish songs.

Bazrouk is accused of stealing their flag and operating off. The sufferer and his brother chased him by way of the group to retrieve it, and after they obtained it again, Bazrouk allegedly snuck up beside the second sufferer and punched him within the face.

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At the start of this yr, on Jan. 6, Bazrouk allegedly dedicated his third assault on a Jewish individual at a protest in Manhattan. The third sufferer had an Israeli flag draped round his shoulders and was sporting a hat with the flag and a sequence with a Jewish star.

Bazrouk was sporting a keffiyeh on his face when he allegedly "made contact" with the third sufferer's shoulder and wrapped his foot round his ankle. When the sufferer tried to push him away, Bazrouk allegedly cursed at him and punched him within the nostril.

"As alleged, Tarek Bazrouk intentionally got down to hurt Jewish New Yorkers — focusing on them at protests, singling them out, and assaulting them for nothing greater than their id," mentioned NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

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Legislation enforcement obtained warrants to go looking a cellphone allegedly utilized by Bazrouk, which revealed an "antisemitic bias" and "help for anti-Jewish terrorist teams, together with Hamas," the DOJ mentioned, citing court docket paperwork.

Bazrouk allegedly recognized himself as a "Jew hater" in textual content messages, known as Jewish folks "nugatory," and mentioned "Allah" wished "us [to] rid of [Jews]," amongst different vulgar statements, in accordance with the paperwork, which added that he instructed a good friend he was "mad completely happy" when he came upon relations abroad have been a part of Hamas.

The DOJ described his telephone as "plagued by pro-Hamas and pro-Hizballah(sic) propaganda."

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If convicted on all three federal hate crime charges, Bazrouk faces a most of 30 years in jail – 10 years per depend.

The fees in opposition to Bazrouk seem like the primary time federal hate crime prices have been filed in reference to the anti-Israel protests which have taken place throughout American school campuses since Oct. 7, 2023.