Brutal Ramadan Beating Outside Sunset Park Mosque Not Classified As Hate Crime [Updated]

Photos via Muslims Giving Back
Photos via Muslims Giving Back

Police are investigating an assault outside of a Sunset Park mosque early this morning, but say they are not treating the incident as a hate crime.

The 17-year-olds were badly beaten outside of Muslim Community Center of Brooklyn (5224 3rd Avenue), at around 1:15am, following nightly services that take place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leaving both young men with swelling, lacerations, and bruising to the face and head, according to police. One of the boys fell unconscious, and both were taken to a nearby hospital, witnesses say.

A spokesperson for the NYPD told us that the boys had initiated the “dispute” by approaching a car and making a comment about the attire of the attacker’s girlfriend who “was provocatively dressed.”

Hate Crime detectives spoke to the pair, but said they were told no anti-Muslim comments were made, so the incident is not being filed as a bias attack, the spokesperson said.

Mosque leaders posted a differing account on the masjid’s Facebook page Muslims Giving Back, saying one of the victims heard the attacker shout “terrorist” during the assault:

2 of our young community members and volunteers just got attacked outside our masjid after prayers. One had a concussion after the attacker repeatedly kicked him in the face. The attacker ran away after some of our members chased him.
One of the victims heard the attacker shout “Terrorist!” while being punched to the ground. This is absolutely a HATE crime. We are urging our community, our activists, our leaders, to help us make sure the NYPD 72nd precinct files this as a hate crime and catch the perpetrator.
May Allah protect the innocent. Please pray for these young kids and their families.

Cops say no arrests have been made yet, but they have identified the attacker.

Rachel Silberstein/Bensonhurst Bean
Rachel Silberstein/Bensonhurst Bean

Surveillance footage of the incident obtained by Buzzfeed News shows a brutal beating in the middle of the street. One victim initially appears to escape on bike, but returned to help his friend before he was also attacked.

The mosque’s director Mohamed Bahe told the outlet that he had requested additional police patrols during Ramadan due to an uptick anti-Muslim crimes in the city and nationwide, but police were unresponsive.

Bahe noted to Buzzfeed that the teenagers were suspicious of the vehicle, which had tinted windows, because there had been other prostitution- and drug-related incidents in the area.

Update [Monday, July 4, 1pm]: Bahe told us he believes detectives ruled out the possibility of a hate crime prematurely, after only interviewing the teen who was knocked out and could not remember the incident. He said the second teen, who had hear the attacker yell “fucking terrorist,” was not interviewed in detail until Sunday afternoon.

Commanding officer of the NYPD’s 72nd Precinct Captain Emmanuel Gonzalez dropped by the mosque Sunday afternoon to apologize for the lack of police presence around the mosque during Ramadan. According to Bahe, the commanding officer said he was not aware of the mosque, which is significantly smaller than some of the other Muslim houses of worship in the area.

Mohamed Bahe, director of MCC (Photo by Rachel Silberstein/Bensonhurst Bean)
Mohamed Bahe, director of MCC (Photo by Rachel Silberstein/Bensonhurst Bean)

“Which didn’t really make sense because we contacted you guys numerous times,” said Bahe. “In the beginning they said ‘OK, maybe we’ll start tomorrow,’ but no cars ever showed up.”

Gonzalez also cited a lack of resources saying most of his units were being utilized at a larger mosque nearby, according to Bahe.

In the end, Bahe said, the community opted to hire their own security guard from 8pm to midnight. When we visited the mosque Sunday night, Bahe noted that there were still no patrol cars parked outside.

A representative from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office also visited the Muslim Community Center last night and expressed concern over the incident.

Assemblyman Felix Oriz condemned the incident on Facebook today, and urged the NYPD to “fully investigate” whether the incident was a bias attack.

“We must know whether a hate crime was involved. Persons who incited violence must be dealt with according to the law. We have no room for hatred in Sunset Park or anyplace else,” he said.

Public Advocate Letitia James also weighed in, calling on the NYPD to investigate the incident as a hate crime.

“I am deeply disgusted by the assault of two Muslim teenagers that occurred outside of their mosque early this holiday weekend,” she said. “This type of hate and violence will never be tolerated in New York City, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. I urge the NYPD to investigate this as a hate crime, and continue to call on all New Yorkers to report hate crimes against any and all communities. New York City should be a safe haven for people from all walks of life and we must do all we can to prevent these vicious and hateful attacks.”

One of the two injured teens has been released from the hospital.

This is a breaking news story and may contain inaccuracies. We will update the post as we know more.