NYPD Investigating Anti-Muslim Fliers In Bensonhurst
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Muslim residents in a Brooklyn apartment complex are on edge after anti-Islamic fliers were posted there.
As CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported, residents of the sprawling Shore Haven apartment complex in Bensonhurst called police after finding the fliers in some lobbies and hallways. One flier reads in part: "ISLAMISTS! GO TO YOUR COUNTRY!!! USA HATES YOU!!! YOU ARE TERRORISTS AND BASTARDS!!!"
"I'm afraid, because I am Muslim," said Samr Samy.
Samy and others in the complex said they are afraid for themselves and for their Muslim family and friends.
"It makes me feel bad," added Youssry Elraey. "I'm a Muslim anyway. And it makes me feel bad, especially when I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't hurt nobody, and 'Muslim' means 'peace.'"
The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit has been working working to track down whoever left the hate-filled fliers. As of Tuesday night, there had been no arrests.
The fliers were posted at a time when tensions are high between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The last sentence of a flier reads, "YOU ARE THE SECOND HOLOCAUST!!!!"
City Councilman Mark Treyger, D-47th, denounced the message of intolerance.
"This is a hate crime; a hate act," he said, "not just against Muslims, but against everyone in our community. An attack against one group is an attack against us all. And we're not going to stand for it."
Boutahar Ebdelfatah, of Bensonhurst, said he would not let the fliers bother him.
"You know why?" he said. "This is not the president or the country that said that. It is part of the country. And I have to ignore those people."
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