A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with a hate crime in which a group attacked a man Jew on a Brooklyn street on Friday, but New York City Police are still searching for other suspects involved in the assault, police said.
The teen faces charges of gang assault and assault as a hate crime in connection with the Williamsburg attack. The teen’s name has not been released due to his age.
According to police, shortly before 8:00 p.m. on April 1, a 21-year-old man dressed in traditional Hasidic attire was attacked near Gerry Street and Harrison Avenue. The victim was punched and kicked without provocation by the suspects, police said.
The young man suffered minor injuries to the mouth and was treated by paramedics at the scene.
Authorities said they are looking for five more people, all men, seen on surveillance video.
The Anti-Defamation League is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their suggestions by logging in to the website of Crime Stoppers on https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the attack. On Sunday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she is directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation as well.
“I am outraged by this act of violence against a Jewish New Yorker. An attack against one of us is an attack against all of us,” said Governor in a tweet.
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