The U.S. Department of Justice charged a New York man with federal hate crimes in an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, accusing him of assaulting Jewish victims, including two Columbia University students, during three separate protests over the war in Gaza.
The DOJ said that Tarek Bazrouk, 20, "deliberately targeted and assaulted Jewish victims at protests relating to the Israel/Gaza war." Bazrouk was arrested on Wednesday morning.
Bazrouk's case appears to be the first time the DOJ has brought federal hate crime charges related to the recent Columbia protests. A DOJ spokesperson could not confirm that information.
The assaults allegedly all took place in Manhattan, at an April 2024 protest outside the New York Stock Exchange, a December 2024 protest outside Columbia University, and a January 2025 protest near Gramercy Park.
Bazrouk allegedly punched two of the Jewish victims in the face and kicked another in the stomach, according to court documents filed on Wednesday. Bazrouk also stole an Israeli flag from pro-Israel protesters at the Columbia University protest, according to the Justice Department.
The DOJ said that Bazrouk showed support for Hamas and called himself a "Jew hater" in text messages obtained from a search of his cell phone.
Bazrouk is charged with three counts of committing hate crimes, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to DOJ.
An attorney for Bazrouk could not immediately be reached for comment.
