In a disturbing incident caught on video, a 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple hate crimes following an attack on a Muslim woman aboard a New York City subway.
The assault, which gained widespread attention after the video went viral, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about rising Islamophobia.
The incident occurred earlier this month, and the arrest of Greg Kutzin, a Manhattan-based finance director, was made on November 20.
The victim, a 23-year-old Yemeni American and Muslim, was en route to a pro-Palestinian rally in Bryant Park on November 17 when she became the target of the assailant.
According to the victim’s account, the attacker, later identified as Kutzin, began glaring at her on the subway, hurling derogatory slurs, and ultimately physically assaulting her.
The assailant allegedly called her a “terrorist,” forcibly snatched and broke the Palestinian flag she carried, and struck her in the chest. In response, the victim started recording the incident on her phone.
The video, widely circulated on social media platforms, captures the disturbing confrontation as the assailant confronts the victim, holding her broken flag and making aggressive gestures.
Despite her cries for help, fellow passengers on the subway can be heard gasping as the situation unfolds.
The victim continued to record as they disembarked at Times Square-42nd Street, where Kutzin reportedly threw the shattered flag onto the subway tracks, according to the police report.
The victim, who moved to the U.S. from Yemen at the age of 15, chose to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation.
Expressing her shock and disbelief, she stated, “I always felt safe, especially in New York City. I was always aware of crazy people, but not that people were going to target me because of my beliefs.”
Kutzin now faces six hate crime charges, including assault, robbery, grand larceny, petit larceny, criminal mischief, and harassment. Despite pleading not guilty to all counts, he was released on his own recognizance. His lawyer has not responded to media inquiries.
The victim initially faced skepticism from a police officer when she reported the incident at the subway station, with the officer allegedly questioning the validity of her claims.
It was only after the video gained widespread attention that she felt encouraged to file an official report, leading to Kutzin’s subsequent arrest.
The New York Police Department has not provided a response regarding the handling of the incident by the initial officer. The video, shared by the civil rights organization Yemeni Alliance Committee, has garnered over a million views on various social media platforms.
The victim, standing at just 4 feet, 10 inches tall, expressed her apprehension during the encounter, emphasizing that no one on the train intervened on her behalf.
Determined to raise awareness and hold attackers accountable, she emphasized her commitment to recording such incidents in the face of increasing hate crimes.
Kutzin’s employer, StoneX Group, acknowledged the incident on social media, stating that it occurred outside of work and had been turned over to the proper authorities.
However, the company’s stance on investigating the incident or taking further action remains unclear as they did not respond to media requests for comment.
The victim, deeply troubled by the surge in Islamophobia, particularly in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, called for full accountability for attackers and justice for all victims.
In the aftermath of the harrowing experience, she expressed gratitude for the support received, stating, “I thank God I was brave.”
