Brooklyn Woman Arraigned on Hate Crime Charges in Midtown Syringe Attacks on Jewish Men

Anna Mochalova, 32, of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, was arraigned Sunday on multiple hate crime charges stemming from two syringe attacks on Jewish men in Midtown Manhattan on October 21. Authorities say Mochalova followed a man wearing Hasidic clothing on West 47th Street — in the heart of the city's Diamond District — around 5:50 p.m., stabbing him with a needle. About five minutes later, she allegedly attacked a second Jewish man with a syringe and threatened him. When she approached a third man and asked if he was Jewish, he replied he was Muslim, and she apologised and walked away. Mochalova faces charges of second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree menacing as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon. The arraignment and arrest were reported as top stories by NBC New York and CBS New York on October 26.