Part Of Asian Man's Finger Bitten Off During Unprovoked Attack In Hell's Kitchen

KEY POINTS

The attacker punched the victim repeatedly
"Go back to your country!" he shouted at the victim
He also bit two fingers on the victim's left hand
The NYPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime

An Asian man was assaulted and had part of his finger bitten off during an unprovoked attack in Hell's Kitchen Tuesday morning.

The attacker punched the 48-year-old victim on the corner of West 43rd St. and 11th Ave. around 10 a.m. and shouted, "Go back to your country!" He then bit two fingers on the man's left hand, "causing the middle fingertip to be severed," the New York Police Department (NYPD) said on its official Twitter account.

The individual then told the victim to "go back to your country" before repeatedly punching him in his face and biting the victim's two fingers causing the middle finger tip to be severed. Have any info? DM @NYPDTips or call them at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are anonymous. pic.twitter.com/PYsMZG9bdf
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 19, 2021

The attacker fled the scene after the incident. Meanwhile, the victim was taken to Mt. Sinai West Hospital for further medical assistance.

The NYPD is now investigating the attack as a hate crime.

In one of its tweets, the NYPD shared a short video clip showing the attacker. In it, he can be seen shirtless, wearing blue jeans and carrying a red sweater in his left hand.

The NYPD also encouraged the public to get in touch with the department if they have any information about the suspect. "Have any info? DM @NYPDTips or call them at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are anonymous," it said.

Since the start of the pandemic, the country has witnessed a surge in violence directed toward the Asian population.

Earlier this month, an Asian woman was attacked with a hammer not far from Tuesday's scene of the crime. The 31-year-old victim was walking to the subway with a friend when 37-year-old Ebony Jackson assaulted her.

In his effort to curb hate crime against Asian Americans, Gov. Cuomo has directed the state police's Hate Crimes Task Force to help with the ongoing investigation.

"In what has now become an alarming, disgusting pattern, we have learned that yet another Asian American was attacked violently in Manhattan. This needs to end," Cuomo said in a statement as per WNBC. "I want the Asian American community to remember that we stand with them against hate. As New Yorkers, we are forever proud of our diversity and we reject any cowardly attempts to divide us."

As of May 9, a total of 81 anti-Asian hate crimes had already been reported, NY Daily News said in a report. This number is four times higher than the crime witnessed during the same period in 2020.