NYPD: Muslim Woman Set On Fire Just Before 9/11 Anniversary

A Muslim woman wearing religious attire was set on fire in New York City on Saturday night, just hours before the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

The woman, a Scottish tourist shopping on Fifth Avenue, noticed her sleeve was on fire and quickly put it out , the New York Daily News reported.

“She saw (the suspect) pull a lighter away and walk away,” a police source told the newspaper. “He doesn’t say anything.”

Police are investigating whether the incident may be considered a hate crime , and are searching for the suspect, Fusion reported. No description for the attacker was released to the public.

The victim is a 35-year-old dentist from Glasgow , according to DNA Info. She was not badly injured and refused medical attention. 

“We will advocate for a full investigation ,” the Council on America-Islamic Relations wrote on Facebook . 

A number of attacks were reported on Muslims around the 9/11 anniversary. In New York last week, a Muslim woman and her two young children were allegedly attacked in what prosecutors called a hate crime . And in Florida, someone set fire to the mosque once attended by Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen .

HuffPost has recorded more than 230 acts of anti-Muslim violence , discrimination and political speech in the United States this year. During the month of Ramadan, there were at least 20 anti-Muslim crimes . 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said someone set fire to the Pulse nightclub shooter’s mosque in Orlando. It is located in Fort Pierce, Florida.