A Connecticut state representative was assaulted after attending a service marking Eid al-Adha in downtown Hartford on Wednesday, police and officials said.
"My heart is with Rep. Maryam Khan who was attacked today after attending Eid al-Adha services with her family," Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement shared on Twitter.
"It's disturbing to me that this happened on a holy day meant to be marked with peaceful prayer," he said.
Khan’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
A 30-year-old man identified as Andrey Desmond, of New Britain, was arrested in connection with the incident, the Hartford Police Department said in a news release.
Officers were initially called to the downtown Hartford area just after 11 a.m. ET after receiving a report that a man had assaulted a woman, police said. They arrived to find the man had been detained by civilian bystanders and later arrested him.
Police said the suspect was alleged to have approached Khan and made "unwanted advances." He was then alleged to have tried to prevent the official from leaving and assaulted her.
The suspect attempted to flee, but was chased and held down by another worshipper, police said. Khan suffered minor injuries and was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene, authorities said.
Police said Desmond faces charges including third-degree assault, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and interfering with police.
Any potential motive in the attack was not immediately clear.
Farhan Memon, chair of the the Connecticut Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged local, state and federal 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."
“All too often we have seen American Muslims, or those perceived to be Muslim, targeted by hate because of their attire, race or ethnicity," Memon said.
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