Woman Attacked In UWS By Protesters Removing Israeli Hostage Signs: PD

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - A woman was attacked, including having a Star of David necklace ripped from her neck, by two protesters removing Israeli hostage posters on the Upper West Side near Riverside Drive Thursday, authorities said.

The 41-year-old victim began recording two women removing Israeli missing person posters from a light pole about 9:55 p.m. near Riverside Drive and West 82nd Street, police said.

The woman and protesters began verbally fighting before the two women tearing down the posters physically assaulted the victim, including forcibly ripping off the Star of David necklace hanging around her neck, police said.

The protesters also knocked the victim's cell phone out of her hand and onto the ground, which damaged the device, police said.

The victim sustained minor injuries to her face and neck but refused further medical attention at the scene, police said.

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident.

The two individuals being sought are described as women standing about five feet six inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds with thin builds and black hair. They were last seen wearing dark clothing; one of the women had a nose piercing, police said.

Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).