The Cathedral of Learning and the William Pitt Union.
At 11:30 am on Friday, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted by Pitt Police, received a report of a “hate crime/assault” that occurred in the area of Semple and Ward Street at 2 a.m.
The victim was reportedly attacked by 6-8 males who used antisemitic language, and a bystander “intervened and ended the assault.”
City of Pittsburgh Police say they are investigating the incident as a “simple assault and ethnic intimidation.” According to their public safety blotter, the victim was walking in the area of Semple and Ward Street when “a group of about eight males” saw his Star of David necklace and “hurled insults about Israel.” The statement says the victim argued with the group when “at least three of the males started punching and kicking him, causing a bruised lip.”
A university spokesperson affirmed the FBI is working with the Pittsburgh Police on the investigation and reiterated that “any violence or antisemitic acts against our community will not be tolerated.”
“Early this morning, a group of individuals assaulted a Jewish student off-campus, while using antisemitic language during the attack,” the spokesperson said. “The FBI and City of Pittsburgh Police are leading this investigation.”
In a statement from FBI Pittsburgh Public Affairs Specialist Bradford Arick, the FBI is currently “unable to comment further on this situation.”
“The FBI takes all allegations of federal criminal violations seriously and initiates a thorough and in-depth investigation of the facts when appropriate,” Arick said.
Pitt Police issued a crime alert at 2:11 p.m., and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who has any information about the crime or the suspects listed on the site is encouraged to call the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the University of Pittsburgh Police Department, or the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, at the numbers listed below.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Federal Bureau of Investigation: (412) 432-4000
University of Pittsburgh Police Department: (412) 624-2121
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Zone 4: (412) 422-6520
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