Jewish reporter attacked and called ‘Nazi’ as unrest over Covid restrictions intensifies in Orthodox New York neighbourhood

Reporter blames attack on aspiring local populist politician, accusing him of inciting the crowd

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather in Borough Park in New York to protest Covid-19 restrictions (REUTERS)

An Orthodox Jewish reporter says he was attacked by an angry group of protesters at a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions in New York City on Wednesday night.

Jacob Kornbluh was reporting on the second night of protests by Orthodox Jews in Borough Park, Brooklyn, when a mob chased after him calling him a “Nazi” and “Hitler”.

Many in the Orthodox Jewish community are angry at the lockdowns imposed on their neighbourhoods in an effort to stop a resurgence in cases of Covid-19 becoming a citywide problem.

Mr Kornbluh blamed his assault on Heshy Tischler, described by The New York Post as an “agitator and aspiring politician”, who is running for City Council. Mr Tischler says he does not condone violence.

“I was just brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd of hundreds of community members of the Boro Park protest — while yelling at me “Nazi” and “Hitler” —after Heshy Tischler recognised me and ordered the crowd to chase me down the street,” he tweeted.

Jake Offenhartz, a reporter for Gothamist, caught the attack on video. Under a large Trump-Pence 2020 flag, the crowd can be heard calling Mr Kornbluh a “moyser”, or snitch.

Police officers and community members stepped in and saved My Kornbluh. A protester said afterward that he is “lucky to be alive”.

Mr Kornbluh later tweeted: “I want to thank the people who got in harm’s way — and might have gotten injured — to protect me. I am filing charges against Heshy Tischler for incitement and physical assault and will seek charges against any individual who hit me.”

On the first night of protests and unrest, Mr Tischler was caught on video referring to Chirlane McCray, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s wife, as “retard woman”.

Bruce Schaff, a Jewish freelance photographer, and a second man, Berish Getz, were also reportedly attacked that night.

With cases of coronavirus spiking across a large swathe of Brooklyn and Queens, both the mayor and Governor Andrew Cuomo have imposed restrictions on schools, businesses and synagogues.

Local Hasidic leaders have spoken out against the rules and accused the governor of singling out Jewish people. 

A Twitter account linked to Mr Tischler has asked for Donald Trump “to interfere with Gov Cuomo’s hateful decision of tough lockdown on our schools and places of worship”.

Mr Tischler, a pro-Trump populist, has vowed to challenge any fines imposed for breaking the new restrictions.

On Thursday morning,  the same account accused Mr Kornbluh of looking for trouble, said that he is lying about the encounter, and that nobody got hurt.

The Independent has asked Mr Tischler for comment.