CAIR-NY Welcomes Arrest for Anti-Muslim Attacks in Bay Ridge, Says Incidents Result of ‘Alarming Rise in Anti-Muslim Hate’
(NEW YORK, NY, 2/5/26) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a Staten Island woman accused of carrying out a series of violent, anti-Muslim hate crime attacks in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, including the assault of a 12-year-old Muslim girl.
CAIR-NY said the alleged attacks “are part of a broader and alarming rise in anti-Muslim hate.”
According to the NYPD, 34-year-old Megan Horne allegedly attacked three Muslims on January 30, targeting victims while making anti-Muslim remarks. The incidents included pushing and kicking a woman walking down the street with her child, assaulting another woman attempting to board a bus, and punching a minor outside a school.
All three victims were wearing a hijab, an Islamic headscarf. Authorities have charged the suspect with multiple offenses, including assault and aggravated harassment as hate crimes, as well as acting in a manner injurious to a child.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
“While we welcome the arrest of the suspect as an important step toward accountability, these disturbing attacks are part of a broader and alarming rise in anti-Muslim hate that is leaving our communities fearful and vulnerable. A child being targeted makes this violence especially egregious and underscores the urgent need for stronger protections against bias-motivated crimes.”
SEE: NYPD: Woman attacks 3 people in anti-Muslim rampage in Bay Ridge
SEE ALSO: Woman arrested after series of anti-Muslim hate crimes in Bay Ridge
She added: “We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a bias-motivated incident to report it to law enforcement and civil rights organizations. We commend law enforcement authorities for taking these incidents seriously and stands in solidarity with the victims and their families.”
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq. CAIR-NY Executive Director, ANasher@cair.com;
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com