A migrant has been arrested after he was seen in shocking Ring doorbell footage tearing down a pro-Israel flag from a New Yorker’s porch before launching into a frenzied attack on the homeowner.
Bechir Lehbeib, 26, was arrested on Sunday after pummeling Long Island resident Alexsandr Binyaminov, after allegedly taking offense to his ‘In This Home We Stand with Israel’ flag.
Binyaminov, who reportedly said one of his relatives was killed in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, blamed President Joe Biden’s weak border policies for his ordeal.
He told the New York Post that the migrant attack came entirely out of the blue, when as soon as he confronted him over removing the flag he ‘just started fighting with me and punching me in my face.’
The migrant, who has claimed asylum status is from North Africa, officials have said. During the assault, he yelled that he was from Palestine.
Ring doorbell footage captured the moment a ‘Palestinian’ migrant tore down an Israeli flag from a porch in Long Island, New York
Homeowner Alexsandr Binyaminov said he confronted the man before he ‘just started fighting with me and punching me in my face’
Bechir Lehbeib, 26, reportedly said he was Palestinian in the attack and proclaimed his hatred of Israel, although officials said he is from North Africa
Although Lehbeib reportedly said he was Palestinian during the alleged attack, the Nassau County Police Department told DailyMail.com he was a North African asylum seeker.
The department noted that he resides in a migrant shelter in Staten Island, around 30 miles from the incident in Hewlett, Long Island.
The homeowner said he was left battered and bruised by the incident, which happened after his Ring doorbell security system alerted him that someone was at his house.
Binyaminov said he looked out the front of his home to see Lebeib ripping his pro-Israel flag from his porch.
‘So, I got dressed, came out. I confronted him,’ he said, adding that the alleged assailant started attacking him as soon as he told him to give back the flag.
He then ran after the migrant and ‘didn’t think twice’ about escalating the situation, because ‘I was a little hot and it meant something to us.’
But his attempts to retrieve the flag from Lehbeib allegedly turned violent, as he said he ‘basically got me in a choke position, threw me on the floor and head butted me.’
‘He was saying, ‘I’m from Palestine. You’re killing Jews.’ That’s all he said,’ Binyaminov added.
Blurry cellphone footage also captured Lehbeib taking off with the flag, before he turned around and flashed his middle finger.
As cops arrived and arrested Lehbeib, he allegedly continued ranting over the Middle East crisis, saying he hated Israeli Jews.
He allegedly told the arresting officers: ‘If I see the flag of the people that killed my people, we will have a problem.’
Blurry cell phone footage also captured Lehbeib taking off with the flag, before turning around and flashing his middle finger
The incident sparked outrage, as Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said it is indicative of the migrant crisis as they are ‘spitting on our flag… It’s an invasion. It’s a disgrace’
The Nassau Police Department told DailyMail.com that Lehbeib refused medical attention at the scene, while Binyaminov was left with a black eye and small injuries.
He is now facing charges of second-degree assault, second-degree robbery, and criminal mischief.
Following his arraignment, the migrant is being held on $50,000 cash and $100,000 bond, police said.
Officials reportedly said the migrant entered the US over the southern border in November. Although he describe himself as Palestinian, authorities believe he is from the north African region.
The incident comes just weeks after the savage migrant beating of an NYPD police officer in Manhattan’s Times Square, which sparked outrage as the migrant crisis continues to stretch the Big Apple’s resources thin.
Binyaminov blamed the crisis for his attack, feeling it never would have happened with efficient border policies.
‘This is happening because of open borders, and before letting people in we need to see their backgrounds. We need to protect our country, our citizens, our taxpayers,’ he said.
He insisted that Hewlett is a ‘very quiet’ neighborhood where ‘nothing ever happens’, and said he had no idea what he was doing in the sleepy community.
‘I know he’s facing a couple of felonies, but this was his choice,’ he added.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, speaking as he announced the arrest, said he was outraged that the incident occurred in the civilized neighborhood, because ‘Nassau County is not a sanctuary city.’
He added that an investigation is underway to figure out why Lehbeib was so far from the migrant shelter he resides in, after he is believed to have taken a bus.
He reportedly said he was in the neighborhood looking for work, and has a listed address in Jamaica, Queens as well as in the Staten Island migrant shelter.
‘It’s very suspicious,’ Blakeman continued. ‘He came a long way from Staten Island to get here. If he’s looking for work why did he have nefarious ideas… it’s absolutely crazy.’
‘These aren’t people kissing the ground when they come here. They’re spitting on our flag,’ he said.
‘It’s an invasion. It’s a disgrace.’