Middle school girl charged with hate crime in Connecticut

A 12-year-old girl in Waterbury, Connecticut, has been charged with a hate crime after an altercation with two Muslim classmates. The incident occurred earlier this month at Wallace Middle School, where the two Muslim girls reported being bullied. The girl was charged on Friday with intimidation based on bigotry and bias. This was announced in a joint statement from local officials, including the mayor and police department. Another girl involved was previously referred to a diversion program instead of facing arrest. The Waterbury Police Department investigated the incident involving four seventh-grade students. They interviewed students and staff who were present during the altercation on March 3. The two Muslim girls claimed they faced harassment because of their beliefs. During the incident, two girls sustained minor injuries. One girl had a bloody nose and bruises, while the other had marks on her neck. The girls had recently moved from Egypt and had reported bullying to a teacher before the attack. Officials found that the conflict was motivated by religion and ethnicity, leading to the hate crime charge. The local education department confirmed the bullying occurred and announced new safety measures at the school. Waterbury's mayor praised the thorough investigations and emphasized the need for a safe school environment. The police chief also reiterated their commitment to addressing bias-related incidents in schools.