VIDEO: Asian women attacked from behind by hammer-wielding suspect on NYC sidewalk

New York City police are on the hunt for a suspect they say attacked two Asian women with a hammer on a Manhattan sidewalk Sunday night.

NYPD Hate Crimes posted a video on Twitter of the attack, which took place in the 400 block of West 42nd Street.

What are the details?

Police said the two Asian women — ages 31 and 29 — were walking on the sidewalk around 8:40 p.m. when an unknown individual demanded they remove their masks and then struck the 31-year-old in the head with a hammer resulting in a cut.

Video shows the suspect approaching the women from behind and appearing to unleash the first hammer strike in the back of the head of one woman.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

The unknown individual then appears to strike with the hammer at least three more times.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

But video shows that soon the hammer apparently is dropped and falls to the sidewalk.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

And one of the victims picks up the hammer and appears to dare the attacker to try them again.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

Amazingly the attacker — who loses both shoes in the melee — continues to jaw with the victims and appears to threaten to come at them again.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @NYPDHateCrimes

But the victims soon walk away from the scene as the attacker hollers and glares at them and puts her shoes back on.

Here are pair of closeups of the attacker:

Image source: NYPDHateCrimes

Police said to call 1-800-577-TIPS if you have information. Video of the attack is below:

Physical attacks against Asians have been spiking in New York City for most of 2021:

• Late last month, a 61-year-old Asian man was left in critical condition after a head-stomping attack in East Harlem.
• Also in April, a broad-daylight attack against a 44-year-old Asian man was caught on video, and the NYPD arrested a different man suspected of carrying out three separate attacks on Asian Americans in Brooklyn. Joseph Russo was charged with hate crimes.
• In March, a 65-year-old Asian woman was attacked in New York City while security guards watched.