Rock attack said to be hate crime

A possible anti-Asian hate crime is being investigated near the UC Berkeley campus after someone threw rocks at another person, according to authorities.

An aggravated assault was reported Monday at about 8:45 a.m. near the intersection of Ellsworth Street and Durant Avenue, according to the University of California Police Department, Berkeley.

An unknown person tried to assault someone else using rocks, police said. The assailant wasn’t arrested. Based on the information provided about the incident, authorities believe it was an anti-Asian hate crime.

Witnesses of the incident were encouraged by police to report information at (510) 642-6760.

Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose 177.5% in California from 2020 to 2021, according to state data. Over the last year, antiAsian hate crimes increased from 89 to 247.

— Summer Lin