The coronavirus panic has caused a dramatic increase in hate crimes against Asians outside of Asia. In New York alone, many Asian-Americans have been verbally and physically attacked by people who blame the coronavirus on them. Just last weekend, three teenage girls allegedly attacked a 51-year-old Asian woman in a coronavirus-related hate crime, reports the New York Post.

“You caused the coronavirus b***h!” one of the teens yelled at her allegedly.

The incident occurred on Saturday around 3 pm on the city bus in the Bronx near Ogden Avenue and West 166th Street. The three girls allegedly approached the Asian woman and screamed anti-Asian slurs. This escalated to one of them hitting the Asian woman in the head with an umbrella, according to cops.

The victim was taken to St. Barnabas Hosptial where her head was stitched up.

The three girls were arrested and charged with hate crime assault and aggravated harassment. Their names were not released because they are underage.

In New York City, there have been 10 other crimes “where all the victims were Asian and targeted due to discrimination based on the coronavirus pandemic,” according to a police spokesperson.

Consequently, the New York Attorney General Letitia James set up a hotline where New York Asians can report racism and crimes against them.

Furthermore, the FBI issued a report warning local law enforcement across the country of the increase in hate crimes against Asians because of the coronavirus.

“The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities,” the report said. “The FBI makes the assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.”

UPDATE – 4/5/2020 – Police looking for a fourth suspect alleged to be involved in the incident. According to NBC News, the unidentified woman was the one who allegedly hit the 51-year-old Asian woman in the head with an umbrella.