Hate crime investigation: Victim of stabbing in Brooklyn speaking out after incident investigated as possible hate crime
A victim of a frightening assault near a Jewish Center that is being investigated as a possible hate crime in Brooklyn is speaking out.
It happened just one day after a separate confrontation involving Jewish men on the subway.
Police have released a photo of the man they want to talk to in the latest attack in Crown Heights after police said he made antisemitic remarks and then turned violent.
Police say the suspect unleashed a wave of blows with a sharp object the victim, stabbing him in the chest.
The victim spoke to Eyewitness News over the phone and said he is doing OK.
"All hell broke loose. He just started stabbing," a victim said.
Elias Rosner said he is recovering after police say he was attacked in a potential bias incident near Kingston Avenue and Lincoln Place around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
"They were both were in a rage and they were having an argument that escalated," a store owner said.
Police are investigating whether antisemitic comments by the alleged attacker sparked the violence.
Officials said the suspect walked away from an argument with Rosner before he turned around and stabbed him.
Rosner was captured on camera following the suspect before and after the incident.
"The guy who was stabbed for like a couple of seconds, even, he didn't believe that he was stabbed," the store owner said.
Rosner was treated and released from the hospital.
The attack happened just blocks from Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters on the third night of Hanukkah.
The community is now on edge.
"It's super scary. Honestly, it's very, very scary. I can't believe that happened. It's insane. Whatever's going on in this world, like something needs to change," Mendy Konik said.
Since Monday, the NYPD has received reports about two possible bias incidents against the Jewish community.
Police said a dispute on the subway in Crown Heights on Monday night involved eight men studying at Chabad Lubavitch turned out to be over a subway seat.
Investigators say there was no evidence that antisemitic comments were made.
Still, the NYPD says it's bolstering its presence in the area in response to growing concerns.
"I appreciate the NYPD for the hard work. I look forward to spending the holiday with my family," Rosner said.
Data shows there were about 230 anti-Jewish hate crimes in the city through September.
That's a 23 percent decrease compared to last year during the same time period.
As police continue to investigate the potential hate crime stabbing incident, they're asking the public to help identify the suspect.
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