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Man Who Grabbed Woman's Hijab Faces Hate Crime Charge, NYPD Says

By Leslie Albrecht | December 8, 2016 2:58pm
 A man who confronted a Muslim woman in a fit of road rage and grabbed her hijab was arrested Wednesday, police said.
A man who confronted a Muslim woman in a fit of road rage and grabbed her hijab was arrested Wednesday, police said.
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KENSINGTON — A man who confronted a Muslim woman in a fit of road rage and grabbed her hijab was arrested on a hate crime charge Wednesday, police said.

Michail Isakharov, 40, attacked a 22-year-old woman Nov. 14 at the intersection of Avenue C and Ocean Parkway, police said. Isakharov shouted "Muslims aren't supposed to be driving," then got out of his car and blocked the path of the woman's vehicle.

Isakharov then approached the woman's car and grabbed her hijab before fleeing in his black Nissan Pathfinder, police said.

RELATED: MAP: Tracking Reported Hate Crimes in NYC Since the Election

Isakharov also grabbed the victim's phone and threw it to the ground, but before he did, the victim managed to snap a photo of Isakharov and his license plate, police said. Officers used that information to track Isakharov and arrest him Wednesday, police said.

Isakharov was charged with aggravated assault as a hate crime and criminal mischief, police said.

The victim told the Daily News she believed the attack was related to Donald Trump's election.

“He starts yelling, ‘You Muslims don't drive for a reason! Muslims aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia! Trump is now president, you guys are gonna be moved out of here sooner or later!'," the victim told the News.

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Click Below to See DNAinfo's Map of Reported Hate Crimes: