What to Know An attacker punched a 70-year-old woman and told her to shut up as she was praying inside a church in Manhattan, the NYPD said

The woman was praying inside St. Monica’s Church on the Upper East Side when the attack happened according to police

The victim, who is a parishioner at the church, was left with a laceration and pain inside her mouth, the NYPD said

An attacker punched a 70-year-old woman and told her to shut up as she was praying inside a church in Manhattan, the NYPD said.

The woman was praying inside St. Monica’s Church on the Upper East Side around 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday when the female suspect told her to shut up and punched her in the mouth, police said.

The victim, who is a parishioner at the church, was left with a laceration and pain inside her mouth, the NYPD said.

Police are now searching for the female suspect, who was last seen wearing a black coat.

Police say the suspect frequents the area and may be known as "Annie."

This female suspect is #wanted for assaulting a 70-year-old female parishioner as she prayed inside St. Monica’s Church located at 413 East 79th St. on 3/26, at approx. 9:50AM #UES



Suspect possibly known as “Annie” & frequents the area. Any info ☎️ 1-800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTips pic.twitter.com/lh0up5fVbn — NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) March 27, 2019

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.