Illinois Woman Charged with Hate Crimes After Assault at Panera Bread

A Darien woman allegedly attacked a Palestinian couple over a sweatshirt, facing multiple charges as video of the incident circulates online.

Alexandra Szustakiewicz, 64, was charged with two counts of hate crime and one count of disorderly conduct following the incident.
The attack occurred at a Panera Bread in Downers Grove, where Szustakiewicz confronted Waseem Zahran and his pregnant wife over a 'Palestine' hoodie.
Video footage of the incident, shared widely on social media, shows Szustakiewicz attempting to hit the couple and their recording device.
The American-Islamic Relations condemned the attack, linking it to a broader increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents in the U.S.
Szustakiewicz is prohibited from contacting the victims or entering the Panera Bread location, with her arraignment scheduled for December 16.