Asian Man Beaten In Viral Video From NYC Subway, Police Say

LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — An Asian man was beaten in a city subway by men who held him from behind and took turns throwing punches, according to a video circulated online over Memorial Day Weekend.

The motive remains unclear as the city faces a wave of anti-Asian hate crime and a witness claims the victim had just tried to committed sexual assault.

The 42-year-old man was attacked on the A/C platform of the Fulton Street station near John and Nassau streets about 3:30 p.m. Friday, police said.

Video was also posted to Twitter and quickly went viral, with thousands of people viewing the video and weighing in about what might have spurred the attack.

While some groups linked the video to ongoing Asian hate crime, the man who shot the video told the New York Post the beating occurred after the man tried to sexually assault a woman in the subway.

The video includes a witness shouting "You touching girls" and an attacker saying, "I got a daughter," before he delivers his blow.

Police told the Post no complaints of sexual assault were filed from the station and, in a press release issued Monday, did not specify if the attack would be investigated as a hate crime.

Police have not released any information about a possible sexual assault and did not immediately return Patch's request for comment.