Police: Teen Suspects Sought In Bronx Hate Crime Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police said they are now looking for two teenagers in connection with an alleged hate crime attack on a Muslim man in the Bronx.
Newly released surveillance video from the NYPD shows the two suspects fleeing down a street in the Parkchester section after allegedly attacking a Bangladeshi man Friday evening, police said.
The victim, 43-year-old Mujibur Rahman, was on Pugsley Avenue walking his 9-year-old niece home from P.S. 119 after school when he said two masked men, described by police as teens, began yelling at him.
"They were yelling at me, 'ISIS, ISIS,'" Rahman, who doesn't speak English, said through a translator.
They then allegedly beat him until he was left unconscious. The girl was uninjured.
"My niece was shaking because of the fear and the scary situation," he said.
Outraged members of the community gathered in the bitter cold at the scene of the attack Tuesday to denounce hate and stand along Rahman, who said that he is still having nightmares.
"I have pain all over my body," Rahman said. "I cannot walk, I cannot eat, I cannot sleep."
Borough President Ruben Diaz had strong words for those responsible.
"These idiots who did this are not representative of this local community, they aren't representative of the Bronx," Diaz said. "You're not tough, you're a coward, you are all idiots. A real man is what Mr. Rahman was doing, picking up his niece every day from this school."
Community activists are outraged over the allegations.
"Hate has no place in the Bronx or anywhere in the city of New York," said Public Advocate Letitia James.
Mohammed Mujumder, a member of the community board, said Rahman is not affiliated with the Islamic State.
"He's not a politician," he said Sunday. "He's a simple man."
Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda said the attack was unprovoked and said Rahman believes the attackers singled him out for the traditional Muslim clothing he wears.
"He was targeted because of his Muslim faith and we here in the community are outraged about it," he said.
Police said both suspects were wearing ski masks and dark clothing. The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is investigating.
Police have stepped up security outside of the school in wake of the attack and are offering a $2,500 reward for any information that leads to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
