Pols Demand Hate Crime Inquiry Into Muslim TJ Maxx Shopper Attack

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklyn elected officials are demanding police investigate as a hate crime the encounter between two Muslim T. J. Maxx shoppers and the woman who told them "to go back to your country."

Rep. Max Rose, City Council member Justin Brannan, state Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Mathylde Frontus requested the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force investigate in a letter to Deputy Inspector Mark Molinari released Monday evening.

"It is our understanding that on Saturday two of our Muslim constituents were verbally harassed and physically assaulted while shopping for gifts for their children," the politicians wrote.

"At minimum, this warrants an investigation by the Task Force, if not the charge of a hate crime, due to assault or menacing based on religion or perceived national origin."

The request came after Mido Mourad, 41, told police he and his wife were attacked inside the T.J. Maxx on 86th Street and Fifth Avenue about 1 p.m. Saturday, the NYPD confirmed.

Mourad described on Facebook how a store manager refused him help in dealing with the outraged woman and police declined to file his complaint as a hate crime.

"I still cannot believe that TJ Maxx prioritized helping this racist over us," wrote Mourad. "We hope the NYPD will take this assault seriously and investigate it as a hate crime."

Mourad also posted video that show the woman hitting him and promising to "f--- you up" if he didn't stop filming her.

The elected officials condemned the woman's alleged behavior in their letter.

"When an incident like this goes unpunished, it threatens the very fabric of this community and makes our constituents feel less safe in their own neighborhood," they wrote. "Bay Ridge is not a place where one can openly assault another person out of bigotry and expect to avoid consequences."