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According to officials, Connecticut Rep. Maryam Khan (Hartford) was assaulted around 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, while attending an Eid al-Adha prayer service at the XL Center in Hartford.
Hartford Police were called to the area of 225 Trumbull St., on a report of a man assaulting a woman, Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police said.
Upon arrival, officers found the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Andrey Desmond of New Britain being detained by civilian bystanders at the intersection of Trumbull Street and Chapel Street North, Boisvert said.
Boisvert said that during the officer’s investigation, it was determined that Desmond approached a woman, later determined to be a public official, and began to make unwanted advances. He also attempted to prevent her from leaving and assaulted the woman later identified as Khan by Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) in a press release.
Desmond then fled on foot and was chased by civilians. Khan suffered minor injuries and was evaluated by EMS.
Desmond was arrested and charged with:
- Unlawful restraint
- Assault
- Breach of peace
- Interfering with police.
He was held for processing.
CAIR said in a press release that Kahn, her sister, a female friend, and Khan’s three children — a 15 and 10-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son — were reportedly approached by a man, who made vulgar and obscene remarks.
Khan told CAIR-CT Desmond grabbed and hit her and threw her to the ground. Another worshipper intervened, chased, and held the suspect until police arrived, CAIR said.
Khan, her sister, and her older daughter wear religious head scarves or hijab. She is the first Muslim elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives.
“We urge local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this attack and to ensure the safety of the Connecticut Muslim community during the ongoing Eid al-Adha celebrations,” said CAIR-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon. “All too often we have seen American Muslims, or those perceived to be Muslim, targeted by hate because of their attire, race or ethnicity.”
Hartford Police did not identify Kahn by name.
Gov. Ned Lamont commented on the attack.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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