NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Justice accused a New York man of federal hate crimes in an unpublished indictment Wednesday, accusing him of attacking Jewish victims, including two Columbia students, in three protests in the war against Gaza.
The Justice Department said 20-year-old Tarek Bazrouk deliberately attacked and attacked Jewish victims during protests related to the Israel/Gaza war. ” Bazrouk was arrested Wednesday morning.
Bazrouk’s case appears to be the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has filed federal hate crime charges related to the recent Colombian protests. A spokesperson for the Justice Department was unable to confirm the information.
The attacks were allegedly held in Manhattan, a protest outside the New York Stock Exchange in April 2024, protests outside Columbia University in December 2024, and protests near Gramersey Park in January 2025.
Bazrook allegedly slammed two Jewish victims and kicked another in the stomach, according to court documents filed Wednesday. The Justice Department said Bazrook also stole the Israeli flag from pro-Israeli protesters protesting at Columbia University.
The Justice Department said Bazrouk expressed support for Hamas and called himself a “Jew” in text messages obtained in search of his phone.
The Justice Department said Bazrook was charged with three counts of committing a hate crime, each with a maximum sentence of 10 years.
No comment immediately with Bazrouk’s attorney.
(Reported by Dietrich Knauth in New York; Editors by Leigh Jones and Leslie Adler)
