A New York man was arrested on March 31 for allegedly attacking a Hasidic Jewish couple and their one-year-old baby with a knife. The New York Post reported that the suspect passed the couple on the streets of Lower Manhattan before turning back attacking the couple from behind.
The Hasidic man sustained a wound to the head and the Hasidic woman was cut on her lip. The suspect also attacked the couple’s daughter, who got slashed on the chin. The couple proceeded to run away from the attacker and the suspect followed them.
The Hasidic Jewish couple, who were reportedly visiting New York from Belgium, told the police that while the suspect was ranting during the attack, he didn’t say anything anti-Semitic.
The suspect was later arrested on counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance. He had been released from prison in February after pleading guilty to a robbery and assault that occurred in August 2011.
Jewish groups weighed in on the attack. “We are aware of this terrible incident and are reaching out to Law Enforcement to find out more,” Anti-Defamation League New York / New Jersey tweeted. “If you have information about it, please contact @NYPDHateCrimes and @ADL_NYNJ.”
We are aware of this terrible incident and are reaching out to Law Enforcement to find out more. If you have information about it, please contact @NYPDHateCrimes and @ADL_NYNJ https://t.co/b4CyW9J6B8
— ADL New York / New Jersey (@ADL_NYNJ) April 1, 2021
The Stop Antisemitism.org watchdog tweeted that the fact that the suspect turned back to attack the couple shows that the attack “was NOT random; he saw Jews and WALKED BACK to attack them.”
Trigger Warning – attack on the Jewish family, including a 1 year old baby, was caught on film.
Watch as Darryl Jones walks by the couple and child then TURNS BACK to stab/cut them with his knife.
This was NOT random; he saw Jews and WALKED BACK to attack them.
V/C @nypost pic.twitter.com/6Xzk0U9i3l
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 1, 2021
Former New York Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who heads the Americans Against Anti-Semitism watchdog, also tweeted, “This is horrendous! How much violence is needed before NYC leadership figures out it’s untenable?! Must people die?! Violence is out of control in the city, [especially] targeting Jews. Enough! Where is the public outrage?! All the ‘humanitarians’ silent?! Because victims are Hasidic?”
This is horrendous! How much violence is needed before NYC leadership figures out it’s untenable?! Must people die?!
Violence is out of control in the city, esp. targeting Jews. Enough! Where is the public outrage?! All the “humanitarians” silent?! Because victims are Hasidic? https://t.co/uS6cv8phb1
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) April 1, 2021
Bryan Leib, executive director of Iranian Americans for Liberty, similarly tweeted, “Jews have been under attack in NYC for years!!! Where is the public outrage? Where is the wall to wall coverage on cable TV about this? When will Jewish Lives matter???”
WATCH: An attacker skips after the Jews after he slicesd the Jewish man's face. Jews have been under attack in NYC for years!!!
Where is the public outrage?
Where is the wall to wall coverage on cable TV about this?
When will Jewish Lives matter??? https://t.co/TkxMGYNwTw
— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) April 1, 2021