JAMAICA, N.Y. — A Queens man is facing hate crime charges after allegedly attacking a Muslim woman aboard an E train early Wednesday morning, leaving her with multiple facial fractures, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Naved Durrni, 34, of 106th Avenue in Jamaica, was arraigned Thursday on charges including assault in the first degree as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, and other related counts. He was remanded and is due back in court June 23.
The assault took place around 4 a.m. on Wednesday as the victim was riding a Queens-bound E train near Queens Boulevard and 75th Avenue. Durrni allegedly asked the woman, who was wearing a head covering, if she was Muslim. When she confirmed, he reportedly struck her multiple times and kicked her in the face with work boots before fleeing the scene.
The woman sustained fractures to her nasal and orbital bones and was treated at a local hospital for swelling and bruising. Police apprehended Durrni several blocks away.
If convicted of the top charge, Durrni faces up to 25 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by the DA’s Hate Crimes Bureau under Assistant District Attorney Michael Brovner.
The attack is being treated as a bias-motivated assault.