The NYPD’s hate crimes unit is asking the public to help identify a man who attacked a Jewish victim in lower Manhattan and knocked his yarmulke to the ground.
The unprovoked assault happened around 1 p.m. On May 5 near Whitehall Street and Stone Street in the Financial District, police said. The 39-year-old victim was entering a business when the suspect came up from behind him, slapped the religious skullcap off his head, and fled on foot. No injuries were reported, according to the NYPD.
The attack occurred at 1 Whitehall Street, a building that houses a Duane Reade pharmacy and a post office. The suspect was last seen running away from the scene following what police described as an antisemitic display.
Investigators released photographs of the wanted man Tuesday evening in hopes that someone would recognize him. The images show a man with a dark complexion, short or possibly shaved hair, and a moderate build. At the time of the incident, he was dressed in a gray camouflage tracksuit, white sneakers, and a black flat-brim snapback hat. He was also carrying a black and gray crossbody bag and a black plastic bag.
The NYPD has not publicly identified the suspect, and no arrests had been announced as of the release of the images. The department’s hate crimes task force is leading the investigation into the assault.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the man or the attack to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Spanish-speaking tipsters can call 1-888-57-PISTA. The public can also submit tips through the Crime Stoppers website or via the department’s X account, @NYPDTips.
The May 5 incident adds to a pattern of antisemitic attacks that have drawn increasing attention from New York law enforcement in recent years. The NYPD has expanded its hate crimes unit and frequently turns to public surveillance images and social media appeals when suspects remain at large.