A terrorist-supporting anti-Israel protester was charged with federal hate crimes, prosecutors stated Wednesday, after he allegedly carried out three separate assaults on Jewish individuals in New York Metropolis — together with some who’re college students at Columbia College.
Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was ordered detained by Choose Stewart Aaron after prosecutors spoke of “his assist for terror teams, his avowed hatred of Jews, his historical past of violent threats and intimidation.”
In one of many three incidents, Bazrouk is accused of punching a Columbia scholar and stealing his Israeli flag whereas hurling anti-Semitic slurs in a Dec. 9 assault, the FBI stated.
Bazrouk allegedly took half in one other assault throughout a unique Israel-Hamas Conflict protest on April 15, 2024, wherein he kicked a person and informed him to go “kill himself.” Federal prosecutors stated Barzouk later texted in regards to the assault, writing “I started kicking the Zionist cuz they was chatting USA.”
Bazrouk was arrested by the NYPD and charged with a 3rd assault relationship to a Jan 6. Israel-Hamas Conflict protest at First Avenue and East 18th Road. The FBI stated whereas there, he had focused and punched a pro-Israel protester within the face.
Bazrouk pleaded not responsible to state hate crime, theft and assault-related fees filed by the Manhattan district legal professional’s workplace. His public defender, Diane Akerman, stated she had no touch upon the previous state fees, or the newly filed federal hate crime counts.
He was arrested by the FBI Wednesday morning on the federal fees.
Prosecutors stated Bazrouk additionally as soon as threatened a Jewish youngster at a metropolis faculty.
“Despite being arrested after each incident, Bazrouk allegedly remained undeterred and quickly returned to using violence to target Jews in New York City,” Performing U.S. Legal professional Jay Clayton stated in a press release.
The FBI recovered weapons throughout a search of his dwelling Wednesday morning, in line with a Could 7 detention letter written by the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace. Brass knuckles, a searching knife, an airsoft gun, actual bullets and tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in money have been allegedly recovered from his Manhattan condominium.
Some images allegedly confirmed him carrying a inexperienced headband “typically worn by Hamas terrorists,” prosecutors wrote.
FBI New York Director Christopher Raia stated Bazrouk carried out “physical assaults while demonstrating a pattern of supporting anti-Semitic terrorist organizations.”
A search of his cellphone additionally uncovered writings in assist of Hamas and Hezbollah, and he known as himself a “Jew hater,” prosecutors stated.
Bazrouk was charged with three counts of finishing up federal hate crimes which, if convicted, can carry as much as 10 years in federal jail. Barzouk additionally has about 10 previous arrests, a number of referring to drug dealing allegations. His lawyer additionally declined to reply questions on the previous arrests.
Some Jewish on-line teams allege Bazrouk is a supporter of the “Within Our Lifetime” protest group. The ‘WOL’ group on its web site says it stands in opposition to Israel, calling it “the Zionist settler-colonial project.” The group said it supports “the liberation of Palestine by any means necessary” and calls on these “living within the United States to resist the violence of the U.S. empire at home and abroad.”
