By Bill Parry
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating a bias incident in Astoria where a food vendor was pelted by eggs wrapped in hateful notes. Farid El-Baghdadi, 56, told police the eggs were thrown at him while his food truck was parked on Steinway Street several times in the last few weeks.
It happened again Monday as El-Baghdadi, an Egyptian, sat next to his van on Steinway Street near 25th Avenue. El-Baghdadi was hit on his right side with an egg attached to a note that contained anti-Muslim and anti-Arab messages, police said.
He was not hurt and a search of the area was negative, according to the NYPD.
“This vicious attack is hateful and derogatory. Astorians deserve a safe community without fear of assault or harassment because of their religion,” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) said. “As hate crimes have risen this past year, we reaffirm our core American beliefs in justice and unity, and stand against hatred and bigotry. We thank the 114th Precinct and the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force for investigating this heinous crime.”
— Bill Parry
