Updated 04/10/2010 05:50 PM
Three Juveniles Charged With String Of Manhattan Bias Attacks
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Police arrested late Friday three of five juvenile suspects in connection with a series of attacks on five Asian women in Manhattan that have deemed as hate crimes.
A 15-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl were charged with assault as a hate crime. Two other underage suspects were still at large.
The five attacks, which took place between March 31 to April 5, targeted women between the ages of 50 and 71 years old. Three of the attacks took place at Baruch Houses, one took place at 247 East Broadway and a fifth incident took place at the Gompers Houses at 90 Pitt Street.
Surveillance video was found of the Pitt Street incident, seen above. Police say the parents of the suspects saw the tape and contacted authorities.
City and state leaders denounced the alleged hate crimes.
"We are here today to really speak against this hate crime. I mean, personally, we know that a lot of seniors are vulnerable, they're frightened to come forward," said Manhattan Councilwoman Margaret Chin. "We encourage them and their neighbors if they saw anything, if they have any information, to come forward and not to be afraid if there's any immigrant status issue."
"It is so upsetting to hear not just of [the beating of a Mexican man] earlier in the week in Staten Island, but now to hear of a series of incidents in [two Lower Manhattan City Council districts], two very diverse districts, where Asian-American senior citizens are being targeted by young people," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.