An Asian man was pushed to the ground and punched by a stranger with brass joints in Queens, police sources said on Monday.
The incident happened on Saturday around 5:30, when the attacker came out of a gray sedan on 32-25 38th Street in Long Island City and pushed the 61-year-old victim to the ground.
The victim tried to fight back and punched the attacker, but was then hit in the right eye with brass wrists, sources said.
The victim was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital and received stitches. His backpack was stolen during the attack, police sources said.
Police could not immediately say whether the hate crime task force is investigating the crime.
The attack is taking place amid growing biased crimes against Asian men and women in the city and beyond. The NYPD has increased patrols in communities with large Asian populations in response.