Woman attacked on Brooklyn subway in apparent bias incident

BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) -- Police are looking for a man after an apparent bias attack on a subway in Brooklyn, and they are hoping a cell phone photo will lead to an arrest.

The incident happened around 7:15 p.m. on May 22, when police said the suspect went on a rant on a downtown No. 4 subway train, making generally anti-women and anti-white statements.

During the rant, he allegedly directed his attention to a black woman riding on the train. He told her, among other things, that her hair was too white looking.

Authorities say another woman, a 32-year-old white woman who had just gotten on at the Borough Hall Station, overheard what he was saying and snapped a picture of the man. She then went up to him, and an argument ensued between the two.

The suspect then struck the white woman multiple times with his baseball cap before punching her in the face and fleeing when the train arrived at the Nevins Street Station, police said.

The victim suffered a cut lip and declined medical attention.

The incident is being investigated by the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).