An indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York charging Tarek Bazrouk, 20, with three counts of committing hate crimes. These charges are related to his repeated assaults on Jewish victims in New York City between 2024 and 2025. Bazrouk was arrested and is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, "The Civil Rights Division will continue to relentlessly pursue allegations of antisemitic violence and will not stop until justice is served for the victims and their families." She added that under Attorney General Pam Bondi's leadership, all available resources would be used to investigate and charge those targeting others based on faith.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York said, "As alleged, on three separate occasions, Tarek Bazrouk deliberately targeted and assaulted Jewish victims at protests relating to the Israel/Gaza war." He emphasized that despite being arrested after each incident, Bazrouk allegedly continued his violent actions against Jews in New York City.
Court documents indicate that over approximately nine months, Bazrouk physically assaulted three Jewish individuals at protests concerning the Israel/Gaza war. The first incident occurred on April 15, 2024, during a protest outside the New York Stock Exchange where Bazrouk allegedly kicked a Jewish college student in the stomach.
On December 9, 2024, another assault took place near a university campus in upper Manhattan involving a Jewish student who was struck in the face by Bazrouk after an altercation over an Israeli flag.
The third assault happened on January 6, 2025, when Bazrouk reportedly punched another Jewish victim during a protest near East 18th Street in Manhattan.
Christopher G. Raia of the FBI New York Field Office remarked that these alleged hate crimes violated victims' rights and intimidated a broader population: "These alleged hate crimes not only violated the victims’ ability to exercise their first amendment rights but also intimidated and sparked fear among a broader population."
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch commented on Bazrouk's actions: "As alleged, Tarek Bazrouk deliberately set out to harm Jewish New Yorkers — targeting them at protests... Antisemitism and all forms of bigotry have no home here in New York."
Law enforcement found evidence from Bazrouk’s cellphone indicating anti-Semitic bias and support for anti-Jewish terrorist groups like Hamas. Text messages revealed derogatory language towards Jews and expressed support for terrorist organizations.
Bazrouk faces three counts of committing hate crimes with each carrying a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment as prescribed by Congress.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton praised investigative efforts by FBI officials while acknowledging assistance from Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and NYPD.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg and Jim Ligtenberg from the Civil Rights Unit within the Criminal Division.
An indictment serves merely as an allegation; defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within court proceedings.
