A Jewish man in Brooklyn, N.Y., faces more than 40 counts following a police investigation into an alleged months-long campaign of harassment that escalated into violence.
Local law enforcement says that Izak Kadosh targeted his Muslim neighbor, Ahmed Chebira, engaging in such acts as striking him with a mallet on his head, resulting in internal bleeding and hospitalization that required staples.
According to news reports, Kadosh allegedly broke into Chebira’s apartment, where he splashed blue paint on the walls, desecrated a Koran with excrement and destroyed other items. Police say Kadosh also slashed Chebira’s tires, broke his ribs by punching him and made death threats.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul weighed in on X, writing: “This is despicable. Everyone deserves to feel safe in New York, and we will continue to stand up to Islamophobia and all forms of hate. Hate has no place in our state.”
Charges against Kadosh include second-degree attempted murder, second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime, first-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree burglary and second-degree burglary as a hate crime, among other alleged crimes.
Kadosh has pleaded not guilty.
