https://youtu.be/ZOPl0KU2ZZM

From The Gothamist:

BY SCOTT HEINS IN NEWS ON DEC 16, 2016 10:35 AM

The NYPD is searching for a man who they believe committed at least two bias attacks in Bed-Stuy earlier this month, confronting his victims and asking about their ethnicity and religion before punching them in the face. …

The next attack took place near the corner of Marcus Garvey Boulevard and Vernon Avenue, shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12th. NBC reports a 58-year-old man was approached by the suspected attacker, and asked if he was Muslim and from Saudi Arabia before punching him in the face and running off.

Video of the suspected attacker has been circulated by the NYPD.

Police describe the man as roughly 35-years-old, 160 lbs, 6’0,” with black hair and brown eyes last seen wearing a black jacket hoodie. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating both attacks.

Reports of hate crime attacks across the five boroughs have risen sharply compared to last year, particularly in recent weeks since President-elect Donald Trump’s narrow electoral college victory. NBC notes that since election day, the rate of reported hate crimes has spiked 115 percent compared to 2015, with 43 reported cases compared to 20 in the same time period last year.