Two Jewish brothers walking home from Yom Kippur services in Brooklyn were attacked by three men who uttered anti-Semitic slurs, police sources said.
Cops are investigating the attack as a possible bias crime.
The victims, ages 23 and 19, were walking home from the Flatbush Park Jewish Center in Mill Basin about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.
They were wearing yarmulkes and prayer shawls, when they came across their assailants on E. 66th St. by Strickland Ave., sources said.
The three men, all white, were heading in the opposite direction, and when they said, “F—ing Jews,” police said. The older brother responded, “It’s our holiday,” sources said.
The older brother then touched one of the men, who responded by punching him in the face, cops said.
The trio then attacked the brothers, leaving the 23-year-old with bruised ribs and a cut in his mouth, and the 19-year-old with bruises on his eye and a cut lip, sources said.
The attackers are in their 20s, sources said. One wore a white T-shirt, the second a pink T-shirt, and the third a Pink Floyd T-shirt.
A Hatzolah ambulance took the older brother to New York Community Hospital, where he was treated and released. The younger brother was treated by paramedics.
In the wake of the Chelsea bombing in September, Police Commissioner James O’Neill promised Jewish leaders increased police patrols for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur at a pre-holiday briefing held at One Police Plaza.
“We will not allow anyone in New York City to attack or harass anyone because of their faith,” said O’Neill.
“We will do everything we can to ensure people worship freely and lives their lives free from fear.”
