CAIR-NY Welcomes Arrest of Suspect Following Knife Threat Incident Targeting Muslim Men at Brooklyn Restaurant
(NEW YORK, NY, 05/15/2026) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its New York chapter (CAIR-NY) today welcomed the arrest of an individual accused of threatening four Muslim men with a knife as they exited an Applebee's location in Brooklyn Sunday night and called for a full hate crime investigation into the incident.
According to the victims, the incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on May 18 after they finished dining at the restaurant located at 2505 Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn. As the group exited the establishment, they noticed a man seated near the exit staring aggressively in their direction. One member of the group recognized the individual from prior protest-related encounters during which the man was allegedly seen wearing an Israeli flag and yelling racist statements including, “I hate black people.”
Moments later, the man allegedly shouted at the group to “come back inside,” followed them toward the entrance, and then brandished a knife near the doorway. A member of the group began recording the incident on his phone, at which point the suspect allegedly concealed the weapon and returned inside the restaurant. The victims then contacted the police and remained at the scene until officers arrived.
Police reportedly recovered a knife from the suspect’s possession, placed the individual in handcuffs, and escorted him into a police vehicle.
The victims were informed that prosecutors are currently pursuing charges including menacing, harassment, and an order of protection. Currently, there has been no mention of hate crime charges.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“We welcome the arrest made in this alarming incident and commend the victims for remaining calm, documenting the encounter, and immediately contacting law enforcement. The fact that the suspect was allegedly previously observed making racist remarks at anti-Palestinian protests raises additional concerns about possible bias-motivated violence. Brandishing a knife menacingly is a serious threat to public safety, and authorities must thoroughly investigate whether bias played a role in this disturbing encounter.”
CAIR-NY is urging law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime and to take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the impacted individuals and the broader community.
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