NYPD: 2nd Suspect Charged With Hate Crime After Jewish Man Attacked In Diamond District
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A second suspect is facing hate crime charges in the brutal beating of a 29-year-old Jewish man last week in the Diamond District.
The NYPD arrested 25-year-old Faisal Elezzi, of Staten Island, on charges of assault, menacing and harassment as hate crimes.
Police said Elezzi was part of a group that attacked Joseph Borgen last Thursday, as pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests turned violent in Times Square.
Borgen was kicked, punched and beaten with crutches. Police said the suspects also used an anti-Semitic slur.
"They were macing me for like a minute straight," he said. "Kicked me, punched me, beat me with crutches, hit me with flags."
He told CBS2 he was bruised all over his body and had a concussion.
Police arrested 23-year-old Wasseem Awawdeh, of Brooklyn, shortly after the attack. He is accused of hitting Borgen with a crutch.
The search continues for at least three other suspects.
Anyone with information about the beating is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
