Columbia Rioter Accused of Hate Crimes Had Direct Ties to Hamas, DOJ Alleges

A man who took part in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, allegedly assaulted Kews and reportedly contemplated setting a student on fire is now accused of having a direct link to the Hamas terror group’s military wing, according to federal authorities.

Tarek Bazrouk, currently facing three federal hate crime charges targeting Jews, was allegedly “a member of a chat group that received regular updates from Abu Obeida,” the spokesperson for Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades, federal filings state.

This marks the first known instance of a protester at Columbia being tied to receiving direct information from Hamas and allegedly acting on it amid the campus unrest.

Bazrouk, 20, who is not a Columbia student, often wore Hamas’ green headband and reportedly told friends he had relatives in the terrorist group, prosecutors claim in court documents.

Prosecutors also revealed that Bazrouk allegedly struck a Jewish student while ranting about Hitler and expressed admiration for known Hamas leaders in digital messages and media found on his phone.

During one of the April 2024 protests on Columbia’s campus, Bazrouk allegedly messaged someone saying he had lit a flare and wanted to ignite a person but held back because there were too many witnesses, writing he “would’ve hurted [sic] them.”

A native New Yorker and U.S. citizen, Bazrouk was arrested near Columbia’s campus in December 2024 for one of three violent antisemitic incidents he is accused of committing.

While Columbia is private property, protesters repeatedly infiltrated campus grounds throughout 2024, many wearing masks, forcing police to intervene in April that year.

The NYPD had said outside agitators were primarily responsible for the escalation, including a building takeover, with then-Commissioner Edward Caban identifying non-students like Bazrouk as the instigators.

Hamas has previously claimed to have operatives embedded on American campuses. In a lawsuit, a freed hostage said Hamas showed him images of antisemitic protests at Columbia while he was in captivity.

Photos submitted as evidence show a knife and jacket recovered from Bazrouk’s residence, among other materials linking him to pro-Hamas sentiment.

Texts from Bazrouk allegedly include messages where he called himself a “Jew hater,” labeled Jews “worthless,” and encouraged violence against individuals who displayed pro-Israel symbols.

Bazrouk’s alleged violent spree began in April 2024, around the time of the Columbia building occupation. Prosecutors say he assaulted three Jews at a Gaza war protest outside the New York Stock Exchange.

In that incident, he reportedly lunged at individuals waving Israeli flags and, while being restrained by police, kicked a Jewish student in the stomach.

A few days later, Bazrouk allegedly texted a friend threatening to attack any Jewish person he encountered, writing he’d “boom boom them.”

On December 9, he is accused of punching a Jewish Columbia student during a rant involving Nazi references after grabbing an Israeli flag from the victim’s brother.

Then on January 6, prosecutors allege Bazrouk struck another individual wearing an Israeli flag at a Union Square protest, once again targeting someone because of their pro-Israel stance.

Even after repeated arrests, prosecutors said Bazrouk “remained undeterred and quickly returned to using violence to target Jews in New York City.”

He has been held without bail since May 7, facing three federal hate crime charges. If convicted, he could serve up to 30 years in prison.

Federal records also show Bazrouk had previously been arrested in Connecticut in December 2024 for allegedly running a drug operation, possessing and intending to sell narcotics.

Prosecutors argued against granting bail, calling him a “danger to the community and risk of flight,” citing his alleged support for terrorism, documented hatred of Jews, and access to deadly weapons.