NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Florida man was indicted on Thursday for hate crime charges after attacking a Jewish man in Times Square in 2021, prosecutors announced.
Salem Seleiman, 28, was indicted on one count each of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, attempted assault in the second degree as a hate crime, and assault in the third degree as a hate crime. He is additionally charged with attempted gang assault in the first degree.
According to court documents, during a pro-Israel rally and a pro-Palestine rally on May 20, 2021, in Times Square, Seleiman, who was attending the pro-Palestine rally, encountered the victim, Joseph Borgen, 29, wearing a yarmulke.
Prosecutors said six individuals allegedly threw Borgen to the ground, punched him, struck him with a crutch, pepper-sprayed him, and kicked him.
During the assault, the suspects taunted the victim with antisemitic remarks saying, “filthy Jew” and “dirty Jew.”
Seleiman is the sixth defendant to be indicted for the 2021 attack. All five of the other defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced , including three who had state prison sentences announced in January 2024.
After good Samaritans tried to intervene and protect the Borgen, Seleiman allegedly urged onlookers to leave the scene. While Borgen was still on the ground, Seleiman allegedly kicked the victim in the face.
Seleiman was arrested in Florida on a warrant before being extradited to Manhattan.
“As alleged, Salem Seleiman disrupted a peaceful pro-Israel rally when he participated in a brutal antisemitic attack on a Jewish man,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “Seleiman’s alleged conduct was abhorrent and many of the other individuals who joined him have already been convicted and are serving state prison sentences. Violently assaulting someone because of their religion is unacceptable, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, community groups and local leaders to address attacks on the Jewish community.”
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