A harrowing incident unfolded Saturday in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood when a masked assailant attempted to abduct a Hassidic Jewish child walking with his father. Security camera footage captured the attempted kidnapping, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Kingston Avenue and Lefferts Avenue.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., this deeply concerning incident took place in the heart of Crown Heights. We are working hand in hand with the @NYPD71pct in identifying the perpetrator. Kudos to the father for his quick action. pic.twitter.com/ozZLKntYvo
— CH Shomrim (@ShomrimCH) November 10, 2024
The surveillance video shows the attacker lunging toward the child in an attempt to grab and drag him away, but the father successfully pulled his son to safety and fended off the assailant. Shomrim, the local Jewish neighborhood watch organization, reported that through collaboration with the NYPD's 71st Precinct, authorities have identified and apprehended the suspect.
The troubling incident comes amid a wave of attacks targeting Jews in Brooklyn in recent weeks. In a recent case, a Jewish man sustained serious injuries in an antisemitic assault that police are investigating as a hate crime. The perpetrator, who wore a face covering, verbally assaulted the victim with antisemitic slurs before slashing his face with a knife at the intersection of Flatbush and Lafayette Streets.
