NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The NYPD on Wednesday released a photo of a suspect who police say is the protester on a lower Manhattan train last week who demanded "Zionists" identify themselves, threatening riders, "this is your chance to get out!"
NYPD Detectives are looking for this individual - wanted in connection to a criminal incident on 6/10 inside a packed subway car at Union Square station - where he shouted “raise your hands if you’re a Zionist, this is your chance to get out. If you know who he is - contact CrimeStoppers @NYPDTips or 800-577-TIPS," NYPD Chief of Transit Michael M. Kemper posted on X.
The wanted poster released by the NYPD shows the unidentified subject wearing a keffiyeh adorned with the colors of the Palestinian flag, red, green and black -- and sunglasses. The photo was taken from the surveillance footage of the incursion on June 10 on the 5 train in Union Square.
The man is wanted on suspicion of coercion, according to police.
Last week a video of the incident surfaced on social media showing the masked individuals wearing surgical masks and keffiyehs shouting "Raise your hand if you're a Zionist -- this is your chance to get out! OK, no Zionists, we're good!"
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams put out a statement saying "New York City will always protect the right to free speech, but we will never allow our city to descend into lawlessness.
"Threatening New Yorkers based on their beliefs is not only vile, it's illegal and will not be tolerated. Anyone with information about those responsible for this illegal conduct should contact the NYPD immediately," the spokesman said.
After this antisemetic incident along with a series of others in the past few weeks, Governor Kathy Hochoul stated at a press conference in Albany Thursday that she is contemplating a ban on masks in NYC subways.
“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” said Hochul. “On the subway people should not be able to hide behind a mask and commit crimes.”