NEW YORK (JTA) — A man claiming to be Muslim assaulted a Jewish bookstore manager in Manhattan while yelling “F*** the Jews.”
The alleged assailant, an African-American man in his 20s, struck the West Side Judaica employee in the face on Monday afternoon, The New York Daily News reported Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
The victim, 52, told police that he saw the alleged assailant pacing outside the store and stepped outside to find out what he wanted before he was attacked. The assailant, who escaped on a scooter, has not been caught. The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
The suspect is 5-foot-10 and was wearing a red jacket and blue jeans, officials said.
Established in 1934, West Side Judaica is one of only a few remaining freestanding Judaica stores in Manhattan. According to numerous media reports, it has struggled financially in recent years due to rising rents and online competition.
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