New York police on Friday were looking for the perpetrators of the assault on a Jewish man the day before on the sidelines of clashes between pro-Israelis and pro-Palestinians in Times Square, amid an increase in anti-Semitic acts fueled by the conflict in the Middle East.
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NEW YORK —
According to a police spokeswoman, the attack took place at around 6.30 p.m. (10.30 p.m. GMT): five or six men beat and pepper sprayed a 29-year-old man, while hurling anti-Semitic slurs at him. Video of the scene was released by the New York Post.
The police unit in charge of “hate crimes” launched a call for witnesses on Twitter Thursday evening. The victim was hospitalized in “stable” condition, police said, without giving his identity.
A 23-year-old man has already been arrested on suspicion of participating in the assault, while the others were still wanted on Friday, according to the spokesperson.
The attack took place on the sidelines of clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters, gathered shortly after the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 11 days of conflict.
Twenty-six people were arrested during this demonstration, according to the spokesperson. Videos circulated showing scuffles, and the explosion of fireworks rockets.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in our city,” and “the perpetrators of this heinous act will be prosecuted,” tweeted Friday Bill de Blasio, mayor of the American metropolis which has the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would not “tolerate harassment and intimidation by violent and anti-Semitic gangs,” in a statement. He called on the state’s hate crime unit to help New York City police.
“For seven to ten days, we have recorded an increase of more than 50% in anti-Semitic acts,” Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization that fights anti-Semitism and racism told CNN.
Several recent attacks have gone unnoticed, he lamented.
While the media notably reported an assault on Tuesday against Jewish people seated on a restaurant terrace in Los Angeles, he claimed that other attacks had taken place in New York, Florida, Illinois and California. .
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