NYPD: Anti-Semitic attacks have spiked

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The NYPD has arrested three men for an attack in Brooklyn. The suspects are 18, 20, and 21 and face assault as a hate crime charges. The incident appears to be part of a larger issue in the Jewish community in Crown Heights.

Mendel, who didn't want to share his last name, recounted being attacked early Wednesday morning. He described being sucker-punched in the head and falling to the ground on the corner of President Street and Albany Avenue. He said he regained his composure, got up, and tried to go after his attacker. The police arrived quickly, he said.

The NYPD said Mendel was the second Hasidic man attacked that same morning. A security camera video shows the first attack, which was on a 51-year-old man.

Binyomin Lifshitz is a volunteer with Crown Heights Shomrim, a neighborhood patrol. He and his men said they helped the police located three men who were later arrested for both attacks. He said he has seen a terrible uptick in attacks in recent weeks and that people are nervous about being targeted.

The NYPD said that anti-Semitic hate crimes are on the rise. Last year at this time, 13 people were attacked. This year, the number increased to 20.