BLOOMINGDALE, Illinois — Two men accused of spray-painting “FREE GAZA” on an Israeli flag at a northwest suburban supermarket last month now face hate crime charges.
Prosecutors said the alleged incident occurred just before 11:30 pm on Monday, June 24, at Woodman’s Food Market along Stratford Drive in Bloomingdale.
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Tabshir Rizvi, a 23-year-old Bloomingdale resident, and Mohammed Faroun, a 22-year-old Hoffman Estates resident, were each charged with two counts of hate crimes, as well as additional misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct. .
According to prosecutors, the two men allegedly entered the supermarket and grabbed a can of red spray paint before walking to the international foods section where an Israeli flag hung.
The men then allegedly climbed onto the stand below the flag and painted “FREE GAZA” on the flag.
After the alleged incident, the two men left the store.
An investigation was launched and authorities identified Rizvi and Faroun as suspects in the case.
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Prosecutors said Faroun ended up turning himself in to authorities on Tuesday, July 16, and Rizvi turned himself in the next day.
Both men were later released on bail and are scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on August 13.
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