A 20-year-old New Yorker is facing serious federal hate crime charges after allegedly assaulting Jewish individuals at multiple protests across New York City.
Tarek Bazrouk was taken into custody on Thursday morning and will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron later in the day.
His case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in the Southern District of New York.
Federal authorities say Bazrouk deliberately carried out violent attacks targeting Jewish people during protests related to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict between 2024 and 2025.
Justice Department Says It’s Going After Antisemitic Violence With Full Force
Officials at the Department of Justice didn’t hold back.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stressed that under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership, the Civil Rights Division will “relentlessly pursue” antisemitic hate crimes and fight for justice on behalf of the victims and their families.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton added that Bazrouk showed a repeated and disturbing pattern of behavior.
“Even after being arrested, he allegedly kept returning to violence,” Clayton said.
“We will aggressively prosecute those who use hate and violence to terrorize others.”
Three Separate Assaults Allegedly Fueled by Antisemitic Beliefs
Court documents outline a timeline of three separate attacks, all allegedly motivated by hatred toward Jewish people.
The first incident happened in Lower Manhattan on April 15, 2024, during a protest near the New York Stock Exchange.
Bazrouk, who was reportedly wearing a green Hamas-style headband, lunged at a group of pro-Israel demonstrators.
NYPD officers arrested him, but as they escorted him away, Bazrouk kicked a Jewish college student in the stomach.
The victim, standing among others wearing kippahs and holding Israeli flags, was clearly identifiable as Jewish.
Second Attack Near a University Campus in Upper Manhattan
Eight months later, on December 9, 2024, Bazrouk allegedly struck again at another protest near a university campus in Upper Manhattan.
One of the victims, also a Jewish student, was draped in an Israeli flag and singing Hebrew songs with his brother.
During the protest, Bazrouk—his face partially covered—grabbed the flag from the victim’s brother and ran.
When the two students tried to retrieve it, Bazrouk allegedly sucker-punched the student in the face.
Third Assault in East Manhattan Follows Similar Pattern
The third incident took place a month later, on January 6, 2025, during another protest near 1st Avenue and East 18th Street in Manhattan.
This time, Bazrouk is accused of tripping a Jewish man wearing visibly Jewish symbols, including an Israeli flag, a Star of David necklace, and a hat with the Israeli flag.
After an exchange of words, Bazrouk allegedly punched the man in the nose, continuing his pattern of targeted violence.
FBI Says Alleged Hate Crimes Sparked Fear and Intimidation
Christopher G. Raia, head of the FBI’s New York Field Office, said Bazrouk’s actions went beyond assault.
“He didn’t just hurt individuals,” Raia explained, “he created fear and tried to intimidate a wider community from expressing their faith and identity.”
The FBI reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all Americans from violence driven by hatred or religious bias.
NYPD: These Attacks Were Targeted and Intentionally Antisemitic
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch echoed those concerns, saying Bazrouk “set out to harm Jewish New Yorkers” by singling them out during protests and physically assaulting them.
She emphasized that antisemitism—and all forms of hate—have no place in New York City.
The NYPD worked closely with the FBI and federal prosecutors to bring the case forward, hoping to send a clear message: hatred will not be tolerated in the city.
Cellphone Evidence Reveals Disturbing Antisemitic Messages
Investigators later searched Bazrouk’s phone with a court-authorized warrant and found alarming messages and content.
The texts reportedly showed clear antisemitic hatred, including him calling himself a “Jew hater” and expressing support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
He also boasted about family members affiliated with Hamas and mocked Jewish people in his messages.
Authorities say his phone was filled with propaganda supporting violent extremist organizations responsible for the deaths of thousands of Jews.
Each Hate Crime Charge Could Mean Up to a Decade in Prison
Bazrouk has been formally charged with three counts of hate crimes, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars if convicted.
While those are the legal limits set by Congress, any final sentence will ultimately be decided by a judge.
Officials made it clear that this case is about much more than individual assaults—it’s about protecting people from being attacked simply for their religious beliefs.
DOJ Credits FBI and NYPD for Their Joint Work on the Case
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton applauded the hard work of the FBI, NYPD, and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in bringing the case forward.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Unit will lead the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jim Ligtenberg heading up the effort.
Bazrouk Presumed Innocent as Case Moves Forward
It’s important to note: while these charges are extremely serious, they remain allegations for now.
Under U.S. law, Bazrouk is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
But with federal prosecutors, the FBI, and local law enforcement all involved, this case is being taken as a high-profile example of the government’s commitment to confronting hate wherever it appears.