An Asian man was pushed to the ground and punched by a stranger with an English punch in Queens, police sources said on Monday.
The incident happened around 5:30 am on Saturday, when the attacker pulled out of a gray sedan at 32-25 38th Street in Long Island City and threw the 61-year-old victim to the ground.
The victim tried to fight back and punched his assailant, but was hit in the right eye with a brass knuckle, the sources said.
The victim was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital and received points. His backpack was stolen in the attack, police sources said.
The police were unable to immediately say whether the Hate Crime Task Force was investigating the crime.
The attack comes amid a wave of prejudiced crimes against Asian men and women across the city and beyond. The NYPD increased patrolling in communities with large Asian populations in response.