3 men charged with hate crimes for attacks on Jewish men in Brooklyn
DA says violent Crown Heights attacks last Wednesday, which injured 2 including one who required hospitalization, were motivated by bias
JTA — Three men were charged with hate crimes for attacks on identifiably Jewish men in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.
They appeared in a Brooklyn courtroom on Friday.
The men are identified as Nazar Walters, 18, Teshon Bannister, 21, and Joshua Peters, 20.
“We allege that this senseless and violent attack was motivated by bias and are determined to hold the defendants accountable,” Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “We must all stand up against the proliferation of hate crimes and work with all communities to promote tolerance and unity.”
ARRESTED. 3 perpetrators arrested for a brutal ANTI-SEMITIC robbery and assault in #CrownHeights Great collaboration between community @NYPD71Pct and HCTF. @NYPDDetectives @NYPDONeill @NYPDChiefofDept @NYPDChiefPatrol pic.twitter.com/EgQPvO21d6
— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) January 31, 2019
The assaults took place after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
One attack captured by a surveillance camera shows three assailants knocking over a Hasidic Jewish man before punching and kicking him. The victim, 51, required hospitalization for his injuries, the Post reported.
A 22-year-old yeshiva student from Australia identified as Mendel was the second victim.
“They didn’t say anything at all,” Mendel told the Post. “Next thing I know, I was on the floor — my yarmulke and glasses in the gutter somewhere.”
The attackers did not rob their victims.
The NYPD told local media that anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city are on the rise. At this time in 2018, 13 people had been attacked, but this year the number increased to 20, Fox5 NY reported.
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