Man Arrested Again for Assaulting a Muslim Woman on a Queens Subway

Naved Durrni, 34, previously linked to a series of anti-Muslim hate crimes four years ago, was recently detained for allegedly assaulting a Muslim woman on a Queens train, resulting in a fractured nose and facial injuries.

According to authorities, Durrni approached the 55-year-old woman wearing a hijab on an E train passing through the 75th Avenue station early Wednesday morning. He confronted her with questions about her background, asking, “Where are you from? Are you Muslim?” When she confirmed she was, Durrni began to violently punch, slap, and kick her in the face, head, and neck.

The victim was hospitalized for injuries including a broken nose and orbital fractures, along with bruising and swelling. Durrni, who was wearing a black Mets cap, black jacket, red shirt, and Timberland boots at the crime scene, fled but was apprehended a few blocks away.

He faces charges of hate crime assault and aggravated harassment and was remanded without bail during his arraignment.

Previous criminal history includes six arrests, notably targeting Muslim individuals during attacks in Queens in summer 2021. One incident involved punching a man and tugging a woman’s hijab near Liberty Avenue, also taunting her with hate speech and snatching her belongings.

In another case, Durrni allegedly assaulted a woman on Sutphin Boulevard, fractured her nose, and threatened her with a knife when she attempted to call 911. Initially held without bail pending a psychiatric evaluation, his release history remains unclear. Prosecutors stated that he was convicted in 2022 for second-degree aggravated harassment.

The suspect is scheduled for court reappearance in connection with this case on Monday.