NYPD on the hunt for woman wanted for pepper-spraying Muslim teenager in Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- The NYPD is investigating an attack on a Muslim teenager in Brooklyn. Officials say the suspect used anti-ethnic remarks right before the assault.
The victim said she's scared to leave home alone after an encounter on Dec. 19 in Bensonhurst that police are investigating as a hate crime.
"At that moment I just really wanted my dad to be near," 15-year-old Mahak Hussain said.
Still afraid to show her face, Hussain, who was wearing traditional hijab and abaya garb, said the suspect then pepper sprayed her in the face before running away. The teen said she saw the woman approaching, but wasn't paying attention.
"I see a woman coming. She has a hood on. Her neck is covered. She had some of her face covered as well, and she's just walking with her hand in her pocket," Hussain said.
Hussain said everything happened so quickly, she couldn't make sense of it. She had just finished classes for the day at New Utrecht High School and decided to stop by Nom Tea for a snack while waiting on her usual after-school pickup, and was walking to meet her dad when it all unfolded.
"When my dad saw my face and my eye, he was in shock," Hussain said.
Hussain said she was so shaken, a friend had to explain to her father what had transpired. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is searching for a suspect, who is described as a female with a light complexion, approximately 40 years old, and last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black sneakers, and a blue backpack.
"They said they're going to get to the bottom of it, so all we can do is hope," said Adnan Hussain, the victim's brother. "We've been living here for five years, this neighborhood. We can walk outside, no issues, especially where the incident happened."
While her eyes still burn, and her face remains flushed, the victim said she is grateful her father was nearby to comfort her.
The family is concerned because the incident happened in broad daylight, and hopes the suspect is caught soon.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.