A 52-year-old Orthodox Jewish man was attacked on Saturday morning while walking to synagogue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The incident, captured on surveillance footage and circulated on social media, ended with the suspect's arrest after the victim fought back with punches and kicks before bystanders intervened.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is investigating the assault as a possible antisemitic hate crime.
According to local reports, the attack occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. near the intersection of Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue, in the heart of Williamsburg's Orthodox Jewish community.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect approaching the Jewish man and pouring an unidentified liquid on him. A physical confrontation followed, during which the victim fought back with punches and kicks before both men began struggling on the roadway.
Several bystanders arrived shortly afterward and intervened in the confrontation. Volunteers from Williamsburg Shomrim, a Jewish neighborhood security organization, responded to the scene and helped restrain the suspect until officers from the NYPD's 90th Precinct arrived.
Police arrested the suspect and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Victim hospitalized with minor injuries following attack
According to reports from the local Jewish community, the victim's family was celebrating his son's Sheva Brachot, the traditional week of celebrations following a Jewish wedding, that Saturday. He was reportedly on his way to synagogue for morning prayers when the attack occurred.
Volunteers from the Jewish emergency medical organization Hatzalah treated the victim at the scene before transporting him to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition with minor injuries.
Some reports identified the arrested suspect as 26-year-old Barson Mohammed, an immigrant from the Middle East. However, the NYPD has not officially confirmed his identity or released details of any charges filed against him.
Police are investigating whether the attack was motivated by the victim's Jewish identity.
Attack follows antisemitic vandalism of Jewish school buses
The assault occurred just days after four buses belonging to Jewish educational institutions in Williamsburg were vandalized with swastikas and antisemitic, anti-Israel, and pro-Palestinian graffiti.
The messages spray-painted on the buses included "Free Palestine" and "America First."
The NYPD launched a hate crime investigation into the vandalism in cooperation with Williamsburg Shomrim.
No connection between the two incidents has been reported.