By FireRescue1 Staff
NEW YORK — An FDNY firefighter who was arrested for making threats toward his co-workers who allegedly hazed and tormented him for years wants to put the past behind him and get back to work, according to his lawyer.
NY Daily News reported that firefighter Raheem Hassan was arrested and faces a misdemeanor aggravated harassment charge after allegedly making threats toward his colleagues.
“I’m going to kill the guys in the firehouse,” Hassan allegedly said in a phone call.
Hassan, a devout Muslim, said he was hazed for years due to his religion.
“My client was subject to inappropriate behavior for the last two to three years,” Hassan’s lawyer, Aymen Aboushi, said. “There’s been a wide range of inappropriate behavior. We intend on investigating fully.”
Aboushi added that Hassan just wants to get back to work.
“Someone like him just wants to do his job,” Aboushi said.
National Action Network, a nonprofit civil rights organization, took notice of Hassan’s case and met with the firefighter, along with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
National Action Network northeast regional vice president Kirsten John Foy said Hassan was arrested “for standing up for his dignity.”