A man is being charged with a hate crime after allegedly stabbing a transgender girl in Washington DC.

The 15-year-old girl, who has not been identified, was on a Metro train when the suspect began mocking her appearance.

Reginald Anthony Klaiber, 24, allegedly realized the girl was transgender and began to get aggressive.

‘He came to my friend and said you have red hair,’ Jae-la White, a friend of the victim, said.

‘My friend said ok, and then he said, “Oh, you’re a man!”’

‘Then he started bothering my friend,’ White added to the Washington Blade.

‘My friend got up out of her seat to go by the door while the train was moving and told him to please leave her alone. He faced her and said, “I will stab you up and blow your brains out”.’

The witness said Klaiber ‘started to hug’ the victim in a sexual way, and then began stabbing her.

Another friend of the victim then sprayed pepper spray in the suspect’s eyes, the two friends picked up the victim, and ran upstairs at Fort Totten Station.

The witness said Klaiber chased the group. Four officers then subdued the attacker, according to White.

The victim was reportedly in stable condition after being transported to a local hospital.

A Metro spokesperson told WRC that Klaiber will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon along with the hate crime penalty.

Klaiber’s criminal history includes assault and resisting arrest. He was most recently arrested two weeks ago for carrying a concealed weapon.