By Sandy Fitzgerald (NEWSMAX)
The New York Police Department is investigating the brutal attack of a Jewish man on his way to worship at a Brooklyn synagogue as a hate crime.
The report comes after the Flatbush Shomrim, an Orthodox Jewish volunteer civilian group, released video footage Friday on Twitter of two suspects in hoods and masks jumping the man and beating him for about 10 seconds before running away.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes division reported on Twitter the assault happened at 5:30 a.m. ET on New York Avenue in Flatbush.
This pair viciously assaulted and robbed a local resident on his way to Shul this morning. His Tefillin were ultimately recovered by our volunteers.#Shomrim is offering a $1k reward for info leading to arrests – call @NYPD63Pct 911 and our hotline 718-338-9797 with any info. pic.twitter.com/i800Fvyjts
— Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol (@FlatbushShomrim) July 16, 2021
The Shomrim reported its volunteers recovered the man’s Tefillin, a set of small black leather boxes worn by most men from Orthodox and Conservative congregations and containing scrolls of parchment that are inscribed with verses from the Torah.
Shomrim tweeted it is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the suspects’ arrests, and also showed photos of the man’s blood splattered on the sidewalk after he was attacked.
The New York Post, reporting on the incident, noted anti-Semitic attacks have grown by 69% this year alone, with 113 incidents in the first half of 2021 as compared to 67 during the same time period in 2020.
FACE OF EVIL: After hours of following their steps via camera footage, our volunteers obtained video of the faces of the pair – wanted for this morning’s vicious assault/robbery on New York Ave. If you recognize them, contact @NYPD63Pct & #Shomrim 718-338-9797. @NYPDHateCrimes https://t.co/iSh5oegt1P pic.twitter.com/5HSuZgUrq4
— Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol (@FlatbushShomrim) July 16, 2021
The Post also reports hate crimes in New York City have grown overall by 139% this year, with police saying they investigated 320 potential bias attacks through June 27. Last year, 134 incidents were reported in the same time period.
During the months in question:
- Attacks on Asian people grew by 400%, from 21 cases last year to 105 this year.
- Reports of Black people being attacked grew from 15 last year to 28 this year.
- Incidents involving Muslims went up from two last year to five this year.
- Offenses against Hispanics grew from none last year to four this year.
- Hate crimes against whites went to 11 this year from four last year.
- Hate crimes based on sexual orientation went from nine last year to 31 this year.
The count also included 13 cases that were motivated by gender, six by religion, and four by ethnicity, the NYPD reports.
