Teen May Face Hate Crime Charges In Attack On Sikh Man
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A teenager is facing hate crime charges following an attack on a Sikh man in Darien.
Police say the victim, Inderjit Singh Mukker, was driving around 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday when the suspect got out of his car and hit Mukker in the face.
Mukker suffered a fractured cheekbone and a cut to his cheek.
He was treated at a local hospital and released.
After police interviewed Mukker, investigators determined that the attack was a hate crime. Police did not immediately provide details, but the Tribune reported the suspect called the victim "a terrorist" and "Bin Laden."
Charges against the juvenile offender, who has not been identified, could come later on Thursday, according to Darien police.
"This heinous and brutal attack against Mr. Mukker for no other reason than his religious appearance is not only a violation of his human sanctity or that of the Sikh community, but that of all Americans and every person of conscience.
"It is in fact an attack against America. We call on authorities to charge this regrettable incident as a hate crime. We vow to redouble our efforts to challenge the hate and misperception that continue to make such senseless acts possible," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.