A black teen cyclist last Wednesday around 2:30 PM slapped an Orthodox man on the head and knocked off his hat on the corner of Flushing and Nostrand Avenues in Williamsburg, which police officials on Saturday called an anti-Semitic hate crime.
The victim, 27 was walking on the sidewalk when the teen rode by and smacked him in the back of the head.
Police say the assault was unprovoked, and the victim was shaken, but not injured.
NY City is facing a wave of anti-Semitic attacks involving young black men and unsuspecting Orthodox Jews. Police have noted a 71% increase in hate crimes satrting May 26, compared with the same time period last year. The city has seen 183 hate crimes since the start of 2019, compared with 107 in January through May of 2018.
Police on Saturday released a surveillance image of the bicyclist, who is described as black, 15- to 20-years-old, last seen riding a silver BMX bike, wearing a gray and black jacket and listening to red headphones.
With information regarding his whereabouts please contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.