New York, NY, August 23, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it was disturbed by the assault of a Hasidic man that took place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

According to reports, the victim was approached early on the morning of August 21 by the perpetrator who asked for the location of a synagogue before punching the victim in the face and knocking him to the ground.

“While we have seen a reduction in the overall number of anti-Semitic incidents across the city over the past year, we continue to be alarmed and concerned over the volume of unprovoked violent assaults committed against visibly identifiable Jews,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “We are also particularly troubled over the rising number of assaults in King’s County over the last few years. All Brooklyn residents, regardless of their faith, must feel free to walk the streets of their neighborhood in peace.

“We are confident that NYPD, in its usual form, will take the community’s concerns about a possible bias attack seriously,” Mr. Bernstein said.

According to ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, which tracks both criminal and non-criminal acts of anti-Semitism, New York City experienced 132 incidents in 2015, including 59 in Brooklyn.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_News