Washington, February 17: A Sikh clerk was punched by a man who believed he was a Muslim in the US state of California. The accused, identified as John Crain, punched the Sikh clerk and threw hot coffee on him before fleeing just before 2 am (local time). The incident took place on Wednesday and Crain was arrested later that day, the Sacramento Bee reported.

According to a press release issued by Marysville Police Department, the Sikh clerk told officers that Crain had prepared himself a cup of coffee and attempted to leave without paying. The victim is seen in the CCTV footage confronting Crain at the front door before being attacked. suffered injuries from the hot coffee, as well as a contusion on his face, police said. Sikh Man Attacked, Beard Pulled in US; Attacker Charged With Hate Crime.

The police said, later that day, were dispatched to the same store later that afternoon for another reported assault and spotted Crain walking away from the area. He was then arrested. Crain admitted to the officers that he had assaulted the clerk, news agency PTI reported. He told police he “hated Muslims” and attacked the Sikh clerk because he believed he’s Muslim.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations and its allies from the Sikh community condemned the attack. "We condemn this attack on an individual because of his faith. This hate crime represents yet another attack on our Sikh brothers and sisters fuelled by Islamophobia and those emboldened by this administration’s xenophobic policies and sentiments," CAIR-SV’s Civil Rights Attorney Saad Sweilem said in a statement.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2019 07:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).