According to authorities, the victim was hit in the back of the head, face, and back many times while on a bus in Queens on Sunday morning.
According to the New York City Police Department, the incident took place early on Sunday morning on board the MTA shuttle bus 8810 in the neighborhood of 118 Street and Liberty Avenue in the borough of Queens.
The guy approached the young passenger wearing a bright yellow jacket and stated, “We don’t wear that in this country, and take that mask off!” before repeatedly striking him in the back of the head, face, and back. The attack left the victim with “minor laceration and pain,” according to authorities.
The attacker allegedly tried to take the victim’s turban off his head. According to media reports, the victim belonged to the Sikh religion.
Authorities say the suspect fled on foot along Liberty Avenue. According to authorities, no further injuries were recorded, and the victim declined further medical care.The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is looking into it.
The suspect was described as a male between the ages of 25 and 35, with a dark complexion, standing around 5 feet 9 inches tall, with brown eyes and black hair, and wearing blue jeans and shoes.
The Sikh Coalition, a major Sikh spiritual group located in New York, said it had contacted the victim and was providing him assistance.
“We thank allies from across all communities who have spoken out, and urge vigilance for all given the current climate—especially given the heartbreaking recent news out of Illinois,” the organization said in a statement, referring to the stabbing death of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in suburban Chicago, which authorities have described as an anti-Muslim attack.
“As we stand alongside our allies from all communities, we will continue to insist that no one should have to fear for their safety while simply existing in public,” the coalition stated in a statement.
According to media reports, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart said that the department has observed some recent hate crimes in the city that the Israel-Hamas conflict and Middle Eastern tensions have spurred.
“We don’t tolerate it,” Stewart said. “We don’t condone it.”
