Overview

• Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was charged with three federal hate crimes after allegedly assaulting Jewish individuals at Columbia University protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
• Court documents show a warrant‐based search of his cellphone uncovered messages labeling Jews as "worthless," self-identification as a "Jew hater," and calls for violence endorsed by Hamas.
• Prosecutors allege Bazrouk belonged to an online chat group that received regular updates from Abu Obeida, the official spokesperson for Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades.
• Records indicate he traveled to the West Bank and Jordan for three weeks in September and October 2024, prompting questions about his activities abroad.
• Federal agents seized $750,000 in cash from a safe at his home upon arrest, which his attorney said was income from a smoke shop job.