Man Indicted for Hate Crime After Vicious Anti-Muslim Attack in Manhattan

A Brooklyn resident, David Grinblat, has been indicted on hate crime charges following a brutal attack motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment in Manhattan earlier this month. The incident took place on August 5th, when Grinblat allegedly spat on a 25-year-old man who was speaking Urdu on his phone and subsequently assaulted him while shouting offensive remarks such as 'f---ing Muslim' and 'terrorist.' Grinblat has been charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and criminal mischief in two separate cases in Brooklyn. The attack unfolded as the victim pursued Grinblat into a subway station on Fifth Ave. near E. 53rd St., with Grinblat continuing to hurl punches and hurl derogatory comments. The victim sustained injuries and was treated at NYU Langone Health.

Grinblat fled the scene but was later arrested at his home in southern Brooklyn on August 8th. Manhattan prosecutors requested bail for Grinblat, but the judge declined and instead ordered him to undergo a clinical assessment and remain under supervision. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a statement condemning the attack and reaffirming the office's commitment to prosecuting hate crimes. As of mid-August, the Manhattan DA's office was handling 139 hate crime cases, including 39 instances of antisemitism, 31 cases of anti-Asian or Indian bias, 28 cases of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, 15 cases of anti-Hispanic or Mexican prejudice, 10 cases of anti-Muslim or Arab bias, and 10 incidents targeting Black New Yorkers.

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