The New York Police Department (NYPD) is actively searching for multiple suspects involved in a series of hate crimes targeting individuals displaying Israeli flags in Manhattan. The most recent incident occurred near Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus on Saturday night, coinciding with intense anti-Israel protests that resulted in arrests and injuries.
According to law enforcement officials, a 22-year-old man was holding an Israeli flag near Amsterdam Avenue and West 116th Street when an unidentified individual swiftly approached and snatched the flag from his hands. The victim attempted to pursue the suspect into a nearby crowd but was abruptly struck in the face with a rock by another assailant. A third individual then seized the flag and set it ablaze.
This disturbing attack mirrors a similar incident that took place two weeks prior in Midtown. In that case, a 19-year-old woman was standing outside a building on West 34th Street when two individuals, one male and one female wearing headdresses, forcibly took her Israeli flag before fleeing the scene on foot.
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is currently investigating both incidents. At this stage, there is no evidence suggesting a connection between the two attacks or that the five suspects were collaborating.
The targeted assaults on individuals displaying Israeli flags have raised concerns about rising tensions and potential hate crimes in the area. The NYPD is urging anyone with information related to these incidents to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
