Russian Woman Charged With Federal Hate Crimes For Stabbing Multiple Jewish Individuals

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that ANNA MOCHALOVA was arrested on charges of committing hate crimes in connection with her assaults of two Jewish men in and around the Diamond District in Manhattan on October 21, 2026. MOCHALOVA was transferred from state custody earlier today and will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.

"This Office will continue to seek justice for victims of hate-based crimes and will aggressively prosecute those who seek to spread bigotry through violence," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. "As alleged, Anna Mochalova deliberately and viciously targeted Jewish victims with violence. Mochalova allegedly stabbed two men specifically because they were Jewish, an attack made all the more terrifying because the specific weapon used-and its potential contents-remain unknown pending further investigation. Mochalova's alleged actions were an attack on the fundamental right to freely and safely express one's religious identity in public."

"Acts of hate and harassment have no place in our city," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "The alleged hate-motivated crimes committed against Jewish members of our community are unacceptable and have no place in New York. We will continue to use the full force of the law to protect the safety, security, and rights of every New Yorker, including members of our Jewish community."

"A hate crime is a message written in violence, and this defendant's message was loud and clear," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "As alleged in the complaint, Anna Mochalova attacked two visibly Jewish New Yorkers, striking fear in an entire community. Every New Yorker has the right to walk our streets safe from hatred and violence, and the NYPD will always hold those who threaten that right accountable. I thank the NYPD investigators and our federal partners for responding swiftly to this unacceptable act of hate."

As alleged in the Complaint and other public filings:^[1]

On or about October 21, 2026, MOCHALOVA attacked two Jewish men in quick succession with a sharp object that is consistent with being a needle in and around the Diamond District in Manhattan. First, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Victim-1, a Jewish man, was walking along West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues when he noticed MOCHALOVA following him and speaking in Russian. Shortly thereafter, MOCHALOVA stabbed Victim-1 in his lower back with a sharp object, which Victim-1 described as the feeling of a needle prick. At the time, Victim-1, who has a beard, was wearing attire traditionally worn by Orthodox Jewish men, including a black hat, a black suit, a white shirt, and tzitzit. MOCHALOVA then stalked past him towards Sixth Avenue. A still image of the assault is depicted below:

Shortly thereafter, MOCHALOVA approached Victim-2 and a second man ("Individual-1"), who were standing together on the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and West 45th Street, approximately two blocks south of the location where Victim-1 was assaulted. Victim-2 and Individual-1 are also Jewish men, and both were wearing yarmulkes when MOCHALOVA approached. MOCHALOVA bumped into Victim-2 multiple times. As Victim-2 started to confront MOCHALOVA about her repeated bumps, he observed MOCHALOVA stab him with a sharp object on his right forearm. Victim-2, who speaks Russian, recalls that MOCHALOVA spoke in Russian and told him, in sum and substance, "run away, I have a gun." MOCHALOVA also asked Individual-1, in sum and substance, if he was Jewish. Individual-1 responded, in sum and substance, "I don't know, I'm Muslim?" MOCHALOVA told Individual-1 that she "was so sorry" and then fled northbound on Sixth Avenue.

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MOCHALOVA, 32, of Russia, is charged with two counts of committing hate crimes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office's Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division, with consultation from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Christian Ronald are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.