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Jewish teen's assault in Michigan under investigation as possible antisemitic hate crime: police

The 19-year-old was walking around 12:45 a.m. Monday near the main campus of the University of Michigan, where a group of males behind him asked whether he was Jewish, the Ann Arbor Police Department said. 

"When the victim replied yes, the group of males proceeded to assault him," a police statement said. "The suspects then fled the area on foot."

Anti-Israel demonstrators protest outside the campus home of University of Michigan President Santa Ono, in Ann Arbor, Mich., last fall. (Jacob Hamilton/Ann Arbor News via AP/File)

The victim sustained minor injuries, but didn't require hospitalization, police said. 

The department said "we take bias-motivated crimes very seriously and have assigned this incident to our hate crimes detective. Right now, it is very early in the investigation and we have limited information on the suspects."

Ann Arbor Police Chief Andre Anderson said there was "absolutely no place for hate or ethnic intimidation in the City of Ann Arbor."

University of Michigan police break up an anti-Israel encampment on campus. (FOX2 Detroit WJBK)

Ann Arbor police are also investigating the distribution of antisemitic flyers in several neighborhoods earlier this month, WEMU-TV reported. 

In a statement, university president Santa Ono said it was working with the police department as it investigates the alleged assault. 

"We urge anyone with knowledge about the incident to share it with DPSS (university Division of Public Safety and Security) or the Ann Arbor police department. In turn, we will ask that perpetrators be held accountable for their actions," Ono said. "We stand firmly against antisemitism and all bias-motivated behavior. We are committed to creating a community where every student, faculty member, staff member or visitor can thrive without the fear of threats, intimidation or violence."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the University of Michigan.