MIDTOWN — A Muslim woman wearing her traditional religious outfit was window shopping on Fifth Avenue when her sleeve was set on fire by a man, police and sources said.
The 35-year-old victim, who is a dentist from Glasgow, Scotland, had just been dropped off of a sightseeing bus and stopped to window shop in front of the Valentino store at 693 Fifth Ave., between East 54th and 55th streets, around 9 p.m. Saturday when she felt her left arm start to feel warm and realized her blouse was on fire, the NYPD and sources said.
After patting the fire out, she noticed a man standing next to her with a lighter in his hand, and he had lit a patch of her blouse near her elbow, police said.
Neither said a word to the other before the man walked eastbound on East 54th Street after the incident, the NYPD said.
Investigators released video Tuesday of the man they said was responsible for the attack wearing a black hat, black tank top, black pants and black shoes.
The woman refused medical attention at the scene, sources said.
Police searched the area following the incident but couldn't find the perpetrator, the NYPD said.
The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating the incident, sources said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
