Man charged with hate crimes after multiple anti-Muslim attacks in NYC

A man is facing hate crime charges over a series of attacks against Muslims in Queens, New York City.

What he did: Naved Durrni, 30, is accused of targeting two Muslim couples on June 20 and a Muslim woman on July 25.

The first of the two incidents on June 20 occurred around 9:15 p.m. near Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in South Richmond Hill. Durrni allegedly punched a 31-year-old man in the back and tugged on a 24-year-old woman’s hijab before punching her in the arm, according to the New York Daily News.
An hour later, Durrni allegedly followed a 64-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman near the corner of Inwood and Liberty Avenues. He allegedly punched the woman multiple times, resulting in a fractured nose and lacerations to the head and face, as per PIX 11.
Sunday’s incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, NY near 94th Avenue. This time, Durrni allegedly followed a 38-year-old woman while flashing a knife.

The charges: Durrni, who allegedly made anti-Muslim statements in all incidents, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with multiple hate crimes, according to New York police.

The 30-year-old is charged with three counts of aggravated harassment and one count of hate crime assault for the June 20 incidents, CNN noted. He is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, hate crime menacing, and aggravated harassment as a hate crime for the July 25 incident.

Investigation into the cases continues. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Featured Image Screenshots via New York Police Department

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