Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Naved Durrni was charged with assault in the first degree as a hate crime and other charges for allegedly repeatedly punching and kicking a Muslim woman aboard an E train during the early morning hours on Wednesday. The defendant asked a woman, who was wearing a head covering, if she was a Muslim and proceeded to fracture her orbital and nasal bones.

District Attorney Katz said: “Bigotry, hate and violence against the Muslim community or any community that faces discrimination will be met with serious consequences from my office. The defendant, as alleged, approached a woman on the E train and senselessly assaulted her simply because of her faith. Our diversity is our strength and my office will prosecute those who seek to undermine it through hate or violence.”

Durrni, 34, of 106^th Avenue in Jamaica, is charged with assault in the first degree as a hate crime, assault in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, two counts of assault in the second degree, aggravated harassment in the first degree and aggravated harassment in the second degree.

If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison. The defendant was remanded by Judge Michael Katz at his arraignment on Thursday and is due back in court June 23.

DA Katz said, according to the charges and investigation, on June 18, 2025, at approximately 4 a.m. at the intersection of Queens Boulevard and 75^th Avenue, a woman was riding a Queens-bound E train when the defendant, Naved Durrni, approached her and asked her where she was from and if she was a Muslim.

The woman, who was wearing a head covering, told Durrni she was a Muslim, and the defendant then allegedly slapped and punched her on the face multiple times and kicked the woman in the face with his heavy work boots. Durrni then fled the scene.

The defendant was apprehended by police several blocks away from the attack.

The woman suffered a fracture to her nasal bone, a fracture to her orbital bone as well as substantial pain, bruising and swelling and was treated at a local hospital.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Brovner, Chief of the District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.