A Department of Justice (DOJ) court document reveals a lengthy rap sheet in the case of an alleged Hamas sympathizer charged with assaulting multiple Jews in New York.
Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with three hate crimes after allegedly assaulting Jewish citizens over a nine-month period at Israel-related protests, the DOJ said in a Wednesday filing. The department reportedly convinced a judge to have Bazrouk detained after prosecutors brought evidence that he had writings in support of terrorist groups, identified as a “Jew hater,” had access to weapons and had 12 prior arrests, including one for operating an illegal drug facility.
“Bazrouk’s danger to the community and risk of flight are further underscored by his support for terrorist groups, his avowed hatred of Jews, his history of violent threats and intimidation, including of a Jewish child at a New York City School, and his access to numerous weapons — including weapons found in a search of his apartment just this morning,” the DOJ said Wednesday.
Prosecutors said Bazrouk “physically assaulted at least three Jewish individuals at protests concerning the Israel/Gaza war” in April 2024, the following December and in January. Each time, the victim carried pro-Israel or Jewish apparel or were among a visibly Jewish crowd, they said.
“Despite being arrested after each incident (and several other times in the intervening months), Bazrouk remained undeterred and continued to use violence and intimidation to target Jews across Manhattan,” the DOJ said. The government cited witness statements, video footage and other evidence of the incidents.
Court records do not yet list an attorney for Bazrouk.
Bazrouk has been arrested at least 12 previous times, with at least six arising “from his conduct at Israel/Gaza protests,” the DOJ said.
Other than three alleged assaults, Bazrouk’s past charges include operating a drug factory, possessing a controlled substance with an intent to distribute, reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration and other offenses redacted from the DOJ’s document. The drug factory allegedly sold THC products.
The DOJ said it is “continuing to investigate the dispositions of” Bazrouk’s past cases.
Prosecutors also unveiled what they said were text messages showing Bazrouk’s love of Islamic terrorist groups responsible for the deaths of Americans and Jews. They alleged there was “pro-Hamas and pro-[Hezbollah]” imagery on his phones and that he belonged to “a chat group that received regular updates from [a Hamas] spokesperson, Abu Obeida.”
The DOJ said Bazrouk texted someone about media coverage of an April 2024 protest where he was arrested for allegedly lunging at a pro-Israel protester and kicking a Jewish college student in the stomach. Bazrouk said he “can’t wear the green headband no more” —an apparent reference to the green Hamas headband he was wearing during the incident,” prosecutors said.
Other text messages allegedly showed Bazrouk saying Jews are “worthless,” calling on “Allah” should “get rid of” them and describing someone as a “Fucking Jew.” In another conversation, he appeared to discuss how he was prepared to “boom” Jews who posed a threat to him.
“I’m a Jew hater,” he allegedly texted to someone with a laughing emoji.
Bazrouk’s social media activity included a post attempting to reveal where a local Jewish boy attended school, declaring, “1 of the Zionists have been found,” the DOJ alleged.
Federal agents found knives, replica and airsoft guns and shell casings from a real firearm when searching his apartment Wednesday, according to the DOJ’s filing that argued for his detention.
“The Civil Rights Division will continue to relentlessly pursue allegations of antisemitic violence and will not stop until justice is served for the victims and their families,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a Wednesday DOJ press release. “Under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership, we will use all available resources to investigate and charge those who target and assault others because of their faith.”
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