A Brooklyn woman was arrested after police said she attacked two men in separate Midtown Manhattan incidents about two hours apart. Anna Mochalova, 32, faces assault, menacing, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon charges. The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating both incidents. One victim was identified as a rabbi who was reportedly stabbed in the back with an object described by another outlet as a syringe.
| Article Subheadings | |
|---|---|
| 1) | Arrest and charges |
| 2) | First Midtown assault |
| 3) | Second attack and rabbi account |
| 4) | Investigation and community response |
| 5) | Hate crime context in New York City |
Arrest and charges
Police arrested Anna Mochalova on Saturday evening in connection with two reported attacks in Midtown Manhattan. Authorities said she faces eight counts each of assault and menacing, along with two counts each of aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon. The charges relate to incidents reported on Wednesday, October 21, and remain allegations unless proved in court.
The NYPD confirmed that its Hate Crime Task Force is examining both cases. Investigators are assessing the circumstances of the encounters, the victims’ accounts and whether bias played a role. Police have not publicly specified the exact object used in either incident or confirmed what it may have contained.
First Midtown assault
The first incident was reported at approximately 5:50 p.m. near West 45th Street and Avenue of the Americas. Police said a 37-year-old man told officers that another person deliberately collided with him. After he confronted that person, he was struck in the forearm with a sharp object and suffered a laceration.
The attacker reportedly fled on foot. The victim declined medical treatment at the scene, according to police. Investigators later sought surveillance, dashcam and cellphone video from people who may have witnessed the encounter or captured the suspect’s movements in the Diamond District area.
Second attack and rabbi account
About two hours after the first reported assault, officers responded to a stabbing outside 15 West 47th Street. Police said a 26-year-old man was approached and stabbed in the back with an unknown sharp object. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
The second victim was identified by a local newspaper as a rabbi, and that report said a syringe was used. Police did not confirm the syringe description or say what it might have contained. Surveillance footage shared by a Jewish community safety patrol appeared to show the suspected attacker following the rabbi around a parked car as he tried to avoid her.
“I never met that person before. She passes by other people. I’m visibly Jewish.”
The rabbi said he believed his appearance made him a target. Despite the attack, he reportedly returned to the area the following day for Jewish outreach, saying the example of his grandparents, who survived the Holocaust, encouraged him to continue his work.
Investigation and community response
The investigation involved the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force, community safety volunteers and public tips. A Manhattan Jewish safety patrol announced the arrest after previously asking witnesses to provide video or other information from the Diamond District. The group also credited safety organizations in Crown Heights and Queens with assisting the effort.
An antisemitism advocacy group condemned the reported attack and questioned whether New York City remains safe for Jewish residents. The police investigation will determine whether the incidents meet the legal standard for hate crimes and whether additional charges are warranted.
Hate crime context in New York City
The attacks occurred amid an increase in reported hate crimes in New York City. NYPD figures cited in the report showed 463 confirmed hate crimes during the first nine months of 2026, nearly 13% more than during the same period in 2025.
Anti-Jewish incidents represented more than half of the total. Police recorded 245 anti-Jewish hate crimes through September 2026, compared with 242 during the corresponding period a year earlier. Those figures provide context for the task force’s involvement, but they do not establish the motive in the two Midtown cases.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A Brooklyn woman was arrested after two reported Midtown attacks on Wednesday, October 21. |
| 2 | The first victim suffered a forearm laceration and declined medical attention. |
| 3 | The second victim, identified as a rabbi, was hospitalized in stable condition. |
| 4 | The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is investigating both incidents. |
| 5 | NYPD figures showed 245 anti-Jewish hate crimes through September 2026. |
Summary
The arrest connects one suspect to two separate Midtown encounters that left two Jewish men injured, according to police and reported witness information. The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the allegations, including whether the victims were targeted because they were visibly Jewish. The case remains active, and the reported charges and potential bias motivation have not been resolved in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested?
Anna Mochalova, 32, a Brooklyn woman, was arrested Saturday evening in connection with the two reported Midtown attacks.
What charges does she face?
She faces eight counts each of assault and menacing, plus two counts each of aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon.
What happened to the victims?
A 37-year-old man suffered a forearm laceration and declined treatment. A 26-year-old man, identified as a rabbi, was stabbed in the back and taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
Are the incidents being treated as hate crimes?
The NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is investigating both incidents. Police have not announced a final determination about motive or hate-crime classifications.
