New York police arrested 19-year-old Dana Baraket early Wednesday after she allegedly pepper-sprayed two uniformed officers in Times Square and tried to pull a gun from one of their holsters, according to law-enforcement officials. The confrontation unfolded around 1:30 a.m. near Broadway and West 47th Street. Baraket is accused of running up to the officers, spraying them in the face and eyes, then attempting to seize a service weapon while shouting slogans, police sources said. The officers, whose names were not released, subdued the suspect despite temporary blindness and were later treated at a hospital in stable condition. Prosecutors were preparing charges including robbery for the attempted gun grab, assault on a police officer, weapons possession and harassment. Investigators said the incident appeared unprovoked; the motive remains under review. Baraket drew attention in October 2023 when she and her sister were filmed ripping down posters of Israeli hostages on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. She had not previously been charged in that episode.
BREAKING: Dana Baraket—the Islamist caught on video tearing down hostage posters—has been arrested after pepper-spraying two NYPD officers and trying to grab one of their guns in Times Square. Yet another reminder: the pro-Palestinian movement is violent by design. https://t.co/9wI3lLG6mk
Woman pepper-sprays NYPD officers, tries to steal gun in Times Square suicide-by-cop try https://t.co/HguzR8aehI
Remember the Baraket sisters (Aya and Dana) we showcased shortly after 10/7 tearing down posters of kidnapped Israeli children? Dana Baraket was arrested earlier this morning after allegedly pepper-spraying two NYPD officers and attempting to grab one of their firearms in Times https://t.co/KvBWB1AhZA https://t.co/Zy2oJVo13w