New York Woman Arrested for Anti-Semitic Attacks on Two Jewish Men
Authorities are investigating a series of assaults as hate crimes after a woman allegedly attacked two Jewish men, including a rabbi, with a syringe in Manhattan.
A 32-year-old woman, Anna Mochalova, has been arrested for allegedly carrying out two anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish men on New York streets. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has charged her with assault as a hate crime, menacing, aggravated harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon.
The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating both incidents. According to police, Mochalova allegedly followed a 26-year-old rabbi, identified only as Yosef, in Midtown Manhattan before stabbing him from behind with a syringe. Shomrim Manhattan shared video footage online that appears to show the pursuit and subsequent attack.
Yosef, who was dressed in traditional Orthodox garb, told the New York Post that he believes he was targeted because he was "visibly Jewish." He was on his way to conduct Jewish outreach in the Diamond District when the attack occurred. He noticed his shirt was soaked with blood after the assailant fled and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated and released after three hours. Despite the incident, Yosef stated he returned to the area and intends to continue his outreach work.
Hours before the attack on the rabbi, Mochalova allegedly assaulted another Jewish man in a nearby area. This victim reported that Mochalova deliberately bumped into him, spoke in Russian, and then stabbed him in the arm with a sharp object. Mochalova was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and released on $150,000 bail.