An early evening Q66 ride through Woodside turned frightening on Thursday, July 16, 2026, when two women, ages 19 and 21, were threatened on an MTA bus near Northern Boulevard and 51st Street in Queens. Police say an unidentified man pulled out a box cutter, hurled anti Muslim remarks and threatened to physically harm the riders. Investigators have released images of the suspect and are asking New Yorkers to help put a name to his face.
NYPD Posts Wanted Alert
According to NYPD Crime Stoppers, the man walked up to the two women on the Q66, showed a cutting tool and made anti Muslim statements while threatening to hurt them. The social media alert lists the victims' ages and notes that the encounter happened on a Q66 bus in Woodside. It also includes surveillance stills and a short clip that show the suspect from multiple angles. As of the time of the post, police had not announced an arrest.
Where This Happened
The Q66 snakes along Northern Boulevard and serves the Woodside stretch where the confrontation was reported, including stops near Northern Boulevard and 51st Street. ABC7 noted the Q66 incident as one of two attacks targeting religion that the NYPD said it was investigating this week. Riders who rely on the line typically travel between Flushing and Queens Plaza, according to MTA route documents.
Citywide Context
City officials say confirmed hate crimes were up in the first quarter of 2026, and anti Muslim incidents in particular have spiked. In a recent press transcript, the mayor's office and the NYPD pointed to a near 12 percent rise in confirmed hate crimes citywide and a 140 percent jump in anti Muslim hate crimes for the quarter. Those numbers help explain why incidents like the Q66 confrontation are drawing close attention. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force typically reviews reports like this to decide whether they meet the legal standard for a bias motivated offense.
Past Prosecutions Show Possible Outcomes
Transit is no legal gray area when it comes to hate crime charges. In 2023, the Queens District Attorney's Office announced felony hate crime charges after a man allegedly attacked a Sikh passenger on an MTA bus, signaling that bias driven incidents on public transportation can bring enhanced counts. That kind of case shows how a finding of bias can alter both prosecutorial strategy and the potential sentence a defendant faces.
How To Report Tips
Anyone who recognizes the man or has information about the Q66 incident can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 800 577 TIPS or submit a tip online. The Crime Stoppers program advertises rewards of up to $3,500 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment. Tips can also be sent through the program's web portal or by messaging the NYPD's public account, and investigators say clear video or photos from bystanders often make a big difference.
Legal Context
Under New York law, a hate crime occurs when someone intentionally targets a victim because of a protected characteristic, including religion, and then commits one of a list of specified offenses. Those offenses can include menacing and making threats while holding a weapon. If prosecutors determine that a crime was motivated by bias, the underlying charge can be elevated under Penal Law §485.05, which can mean exposure to a more serious sentence if there is a conviction.
