By: Fern Sidman

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a 19-year-old woman previously known for her involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations was arrested in Times Square after allegedly attacking two NYPD officers in a violent outburst that police sources describe as both deliberate and disturbing. The incident, reported by The New York Post, marks a troubling escalation involving a figure already linked to heated political controversy.

According to details released by law enforcement and cited by VIN News, Dana Baraket, 19, approached two uniformed officers at the intersection of Broadway and 47th Street at approximately 1:20 a.m. without warning. She allegedly sprayed both officers in the face with pepper spray and attempted to seize one of their service weapons, reportedly shouting “Kill me!” during the confrontation.

Emergency services quickly responded, and both officers were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Medical staff have since confirmed that the injuries are not life-threatening. Baraket was immediately taken into custody at the scene and now faces a range of criminal charges, including assault on a police officer, attempted robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The second woman, green vest, has been identified as Aya’s sister, Dana Baraket. pic.twitter.com/5EvlbEZ9u7

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) November 3, 2023

In a statement echoed across city and national media outlets, NYPD officials praised the two officers for maintaining composure and acting with restraint under extraordinary pressure. As the VIN News report noted, police leadership emphasized that the situation had the potential to spiral into tragedy but was handled with professional discipline.

“Given the suddenness and aggression of the attack, this could have ended far worse,” said one NYPD official quoted by VIN News. “Our officers acted swiftly, subdued the suspect, and prevented any further escalation. Their response was exemplary.”

Sources familiar with the investigation have indicated that Baraket did not have a known criminal record prior to the incident, but her name had circulated in connection with earlier politically charged actions, notably following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

As VIN News reported in late 2023, Baraket first attracted public scrutiny when she and her sister were caught on video removing posters of kidnapped Israeli children from walls near a university campus in Manhattan. The posters, part of a global awareness campaign launched in the aftermath of the mass abductions during the Hamas assault, became a poignant symbol of solidarity with the Israeli victims.

In the viral footage, Baraket and her sister can be seen ripping down the posters while shouting anti-Israel slogans, sparking a verbal confrontation with passersby. The incident ignited a wave of public backlash, including strong condemnation from Jewish community leaders, pro-Israel advocacy groups, and city officials.

At the time, the sisters’ father, a Lebanese-born New York resident, came to their defense in a statement reported by VIN News. He argued that their actions were “taken out of context,” acknowledging that their language had been “inappropriate,” but suggesting they were provoked by political tensions and public confrontations.

Nonetheless, the VIN News report noted that Baraket’s name became a lightning rod in the growing national debate over antisemitism on college campuses and in public discourse—a debate that has only intensified in recent months as demonstrations on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have escalated across major U.S. cities.

Baraket’s arrest has reignited concerns about the radicalization of politically active youth and the intersection of activism and violence. While authorities have not yet attributed a motive to her alleged assault, officials say they are not ruling out ideological motivations, and investigators are currently reviewing her social media history, affiliations, and prior demonstrations.

The report at VIN News highlighted that the attack occurred in Times Square, one of the most surveilled and symbolically significant locations in the country. The choice of location and the apparent suicidal nature of her outburst—yelling at officers to kill her—have prompted mental health evaluations alongside the criminal investigation.

Experts speaking to VIN News suggest that while political grievances are not unusual among pro-Hamas activists, the escalation to violent confrontation with law enforcement represents a critical line being crossed.

“This was not just a protest gone too far,” one former NYPD official told VIN News. “We’re seeing a troubling pattern where emotionally volatile individuals use political ideologies as a justification—or a shield—for dangerous behavior. That needs to be addressed before more people get hurt.”

Baraket is expected to be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court within the next 24 hours. Legal analysts anticipate that prosecutors will pursue serious felony charges, especially given the allegation that she attempted to disarm an officer, a move classified under New York penal law as a high-level offense with the potential for substantial prison time.

In parallel, VIN News reported that advocacy groups, including several New York-based Jewish organizations, are calling for federal attention to the incident, especially in the context of broader threats against Jewish communities in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

“This is not isolated,” one representative told VIN News. “When individuals previously caught glorifying or minimizing terrorism later turn violent against law enforcement, we must ask whether the ideological permissiveness we’ve seen on college campuses is emboldening real threats.”

Wednesday’s arrest marks the latest chapter in a city grappling with political tension, rising antisemitism, and a wave of increasingly brazen public disturbances. As the VIN News report indicated, the Jewish community remains on high alert, both mourning ongoing tragedies abroad and confronting hostility in their own neighborhoods.

While the full story behind Baraket’s actions will emerge through legal proceedings, the event has already raised red flags across New York’s political, law enforcement, and communal leadership. The incident is no longer just about one young woman’s descent into violence—it has become a case study in the volatile mix of ideology, social unrest, and personal instability.