In New York City, a man faces hate crime charges after allegedly robbing or attempting to rob six women in Brooklyn. He is accused of targeting Asian women because he believed he could overpower them.
20-year-old charged with slew of hate crimes against Asian women
20-year-old Manuel Israel faces a 36-count indictment on charges of robbery as a hate crime after attacking five Chinese women and attempting to rob a sixth two weeks ago. According to prosecutors, he targeted women of Chinese descent because he "perceived them to be vulnerable to attack."
"This defendant allegedly targeted Asian women walking alone because he believed he could overpower them," said District Attorney Ken Thompson. "Such cowardly attacks -- whether based on a person's race, gender, sexuality or ethnicity, destroy the fabric of who we are as a community and won't be tolerated."
Mr. Israel targeted Asian women walking alone because he believed he could overpower them, Mr. Thompson said. The victims were ages 21 to 43.
In each attack, investigators said, a man approached the victim from behind and pulled on her handbag, causing her to fall to the ground. The man then snatched the handbag and fled. Three women were injured in the attacks.
Mr. Israel was arrested on April 6, after a witness to the attempted robbery called 911, the authorities said. The witness reported seeing a man with his arm around the victim’s neck.
The police arrested Mr. Israel six blocks from the site of the attack. Investigators later connected him to the five previous robberies.
Israel is charged with second-degree and third-degree robbery, third-degree robbery as a hate crime, fourth-degree grand larceny as a hate crime, second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree assault, second-degree and attempted robbery as a hate crime.
More here: Manhattan Man Hit With Hate Crime Charges For Robberies Targeting Chinese Women