Russian-born Anna Mochalova has been hit with federal charges after attacks on two men in the Diamond District in Manhattan, New York. According to prosecutors, the woman attacked passersby with a sharp object, probably a needle. On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced two hate crime charges against her. The 32-year-old had previously been charged at the state level as well.
According to investigative documents, the first attack took place at about 5:50 p.m. on West 47th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Mochalova allegedly approached from behind a man dressed in traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing and jabbed him in the lower back with a sharp object, probably a needle. The victim said he felt a prick. Surveillance footage shows the woman making a hand movement indicating a stab to the back.
Shortly afterward, the suspect allegedly attacked another person near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and West 45th Street. According to the federal complaint, the woman approached two men, bumped one of them several times and then stabbed him in the right forearm. Investigators classified both incidents as alleged hate crimes.
Mochalova was arrested Saturday evening. Police officers found her lying on an R line subway train at about 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Russian woman appeared in court on state charges, including eight counts of assault, eight counts of intimidation and numerous counts of aggravated harassment and illegal weapon possession. She was then transferred from state custody in connection with the federal proceedings.
New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch addressed the case, stressing the nature of the alleged acts. “A hate crime is a message expressed through violence, and this defendant’s message was loud and clear,” Tisch said.
Each of the two federal charges against Mochalova carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Edited by JŁ
