Foreign National Charged With Crime For Allegedly Attacking 2 Jewish Men

A Russian national was charged with federal hate crimes Wednesday for an attack on two Jewish men in New York City.

Anna Mochalova, 32, was charged with federal hate crimes Wednesday for allegedly attacking two Jewish men on Oct. 21st in New York City. She allegedly stalked a Jewish individual wearing a yarmulke, stabbed him with a syringe, and then located two more Jewish individuals dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire, stabbing one of them before fleeing, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged.

The first victim reported that Mochalova was allegedly following him as he walked in Manhattan, muttering Russian to herself, the DOJ claimed. Mochalova then allegedly stabbed the man in his lower back with a syringe before running off.

The first victim reported that Mochalova was allegedly following him as he was walking in Manhattan, muttering Russian to herself, the DOJ claimed. Mochalova then allegedly stabbed the man in his lower back with a syringe before running off.

Mochalova reportedly located two more Jewish individuals standing together wearing yarmulkes, two blocks down from the first victim, the DOJ said. Mochalova allegedly started bumping into her second victim repeatedly, and when the second victim confronted her, she stabbed him in his forearm with the syringe.

“Are you Jewish?” Mochalova allegedly asked her potential third victim, according to the DOJ.

“I don’t know, I’m Muslim?” the third potential victim allegedly replied, per the DOJ.

“I’m so sorry,” Mochalova allegedly said to the third individual before fleeing the scene, the DOJ said.

Mochalova, who is a Russian national, is charged with two counts of committing a hate crime, the DOJ stated. The potential contents of her syringe are unknown and pending further investigation.