NEW YORK _ A Muslim woman who claimed she had been attacked earlier this month by three men screaming "Donald Trump" on a Manhattan subway train was charged Wednesday with filing a false report after admitting she made up the story, according to police.
Yasmin Seweid, 18, a Baruch College student from New Hyde Park, was charged with obstructing governmental administration and filing the false report, both misdemeanors, according to police.
Seweid had originally claimed that she was accosted by the men after getting on a Manhattan No. 6 subway car at about 10 p.m. on Dec. 1 at 23rd Street. She had originally claimed that the men taunted her with Trump's name, grabbed her handbag and tried to pull off her hijab before she fled, according to reports at the time.
Given the spate of hate crimes attributed to the current political climate, police said they took the case seriously. But after repeated questioning by detectives, Seweid admitted she had fabricated the report, according to a law enforcement source.
Wednesday, police said Seweid signed a statement admitting her claims about the attack were false. Seweid was taken to central booking for a court appearance.
Seweid had been reported missing last Friday by her family but was found at the home of a friend. The law enforcement source, who didn't want to be identified, said that friction between Seweid and her family appears to have been sparked by her dating a young man.
