By Randall Yip, Executive Editor
New York City police confirmed to AsAmNews Friday that hate crime charges have been filed against a man accused of beating a Muslim woman on a subway train.
The incident happened Wednesday at 4 a.m. on a northbound E train near the 75th Avenue station.
Police say they received a report that an unidentified man wearing a face cover asked a 55-year-old woman if she was Muslim. Authorities say he then punched and kicked her in the face, head and neck.
The suspect escaped the scene at the 75th Avenue station. Police searched the area and promptly arrested him.
Emergency workers took the victim to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with facial injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Naved Durni of Queens, NY. He’s been charged with two counts of hate crime and aggravated harassment.
The executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations issued the following statement to AsAmNews.
“We condemn this vicious attack against a Muslim woman, as it is simply heartbreaking and infuriating. We commend the bystanders and MTA personnel who took swift action, and we thank law enforcement for pursuing hate crime charges. We also pray for our sister’s full recovery from this horrifying trauma.”
According to CAIR, the suspect is the same man charged with three random attacks on Muslims in Queens in 2021. The District Attorney’s office charged with assault as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon and other charges.
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