Charged in 2 attacks on Asians

A Brooklyn man has been charged in two separate anti-Asian hate crimes over the last 2½ weeks.

Joseph Russo, 28, allegedly targeted a 32-year-old Asian woman on March 22, yanking her by the hair and trying to pin her to a storefront. He also shoved a 77-year-old Asian man to the ground as he shopped for groceries on Monday, police said.

Police released surveillance photos from both assaults to the public Wednesday — then realized they were dealing with the same attacker in both crimes, cops said.

Russo (photo) was arrested and charged with assault and aggravated harassment as a hate crime in each attack.

The March 22 assault happened without warning on Kings Highway near E. 13th St. about 7:45 a.m. Authorities charge that Russo tried to pin an Asian woman against a storefront, then took a swing at her with his right fist as he grabbed her hair with his left hand.

She broke free, and he slammed his hand against another storefront twice before walking off, cops said. The assault was caught on video.

The elderly victim in Monday’s assault was shopping for vegetables at the J&R NY Supermarket on Avenue U near E. 14th St. in Sheepshead Bay when Russo shoved him without warning, police said.

Video shows the suspect randomly grabbing a bouquet of flowers from a market’s outdoor display stand and hurling it into the street before the attack.

Russo said nothing during either assault, police said.

Police have logged about three dozen hate crimes against Asians citywide so far this year.