Police Investigating Bias-Motivated Attack on Jewish Man in Michigan, Reported by Reuters

Police in Ann Arbor, Michigan, reported that they are investigating an attack on a 19-year-old Jewish man as a “bias-motivated assault.” The victim informed authorities that the attackers inquired about his religious beliefs before assaulting him.

Human rights advocates have expressed concerns over increasing threats faced by American Muslims, Arabs, and Jews in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated after an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on October 7.

According to police, the victim was walking when he was approached by a group of unidentified males who asked if he was Jewish. Upon confirming his religion, he was subsequently assaulted. The suspects fled the scene on foot; the victim sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization.

Police emphasized the seriousness with which they treat bias-motivated crimes, stating that the incident has been assigned to their hate crimes detective for further investigation.

This incident is part of a troubling trend, as numerous reports of assaults targeting both American Muslims and Jews have emerged. Recent cases include a former Cornell University student sentenced for making threats against Jews, threats against businesses by a man in Florida due to their perceived support of Israel, and a planned attack against a Jewish center in New York City.

Additionally, a man in Illinois was charged with hate crimes for the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy last October, while a stabbing of a Muslim man in Texas was recognized as a hate crime earlier this year. In another incident in June, a Texas woman was accused of attempting to drown a 3-year-old Muslim girl in a bias-motivated attack. An assault on a Muslim man in New York City in August was also classified as a hate crime.