A woman in Harlem, New York, reportedly assaulted two individuals at a local Chinese restaurant, Empire Chinese Restaurant, while hurling anti-Asian slurs. The incident, which took place on April 6 around 2:30 p.m., was allegedly triggered by the woman’s dissatisfaction with the restaurant’s prices.
According to law enforcement sources, the woman, who was a customer at the restaurant, began her tirade with racially charged comments directed at the Asian community. She was heard telling the Asian workers to “go back to your country.”
The situation escalated when the woman physically assaulted a 42-year-old woman, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her to the ground. The identity of the woman who was attacked has not been confirmed by the police, and it remains unclear whether she was an employee of the restaurant.
The assailant then turned her aggression towards a 48-year-old male employee of the restaurant. She reportedly punched him in the head and face, resulting in a cut lip.
The New York Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force is currently investigating the incident. Both victims declined medical treatment for their minor injuries.
The suspect, who is yet to be apprehended, is described as a woman with a dark complexion. She was last seen wearing a black coat, black pants, and black sneakers. The police released a photo of the suspect early Monday in an attempt to identify her.
The incident comes amid a nationwide increase in anti-Asian hate crimes, sparking concerns about the safety of Asian communities in the United States.