Woman Arrested in Midtown Syringe Stabbings, Prosecuted as Hate Crime

A Brooklyn woman, 32, of Brighton Beach, was arrested on October 27, 2026, in connection with two syringe stabbing attacks in Midtown Manhattan's Diamond District. Prosecutors allege she followed a man dressed in traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing, cornered him, and jabbed him with a needle. She then followed a second man nearby, stabbed him with a syringe, and asked in Russian whether he was Jewish. When the second man said he was Muslim, she allegedly apologised and walked away. During the first attack she reportedly threatened the victim: 'Run away from here, I have a gun.' The suspect has been charged with second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree menacing as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon. Both victims survived and were treated for their injuries. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case as a hate crime, citing the defendant's apparent targeting based on perceived religious identity.