Hunt hate suspect

Sought in stab of Asian on B’klyn train

Cops have released surveillance images of the suspect in the stabbing of an Asian man on a Brooklyn subway train — and have determined the incident was a hate crime.

The 39-year-old victim first got into an argument with three kids on the F train platform at the East Broadway station on the Lower East Side at about 2:55 p.m. Tuesday.

He then stepped onto a Brooklyn-bound train, where the stabber started quarreling with him, cops said.

Racial slurs were uttered by both men, police said, and at some point during the ride the attacker whipped a knife out of his backpack and slashed the victim in the chest and back of his neck.

The victim was treated at Brooklyn Hospital and is recovering.

The suspect (photo), described as Black and about 25, got off the train when it pulled into the York St. station in Brooklyn and ran off.

Cops released surveillance images of him Thursday and are asking the public’s help identifying him and tracking him down.

The attack was one of two stabbings in less than 24 hours in the city’s subway system, with both now being investigated as hate crimes.

In the second incident, an assailant used anti-gay slurs when he stabbed a stranger on a Bronx subway train for playing music too loud about 1 a.m. Wednesday — and then changed his clothes as he fled to avoid being caught, police said Thursday. Cops released surveillance images of that suspect Thursday as well.

Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

The city has seen a 13% increase in assaults in the subway system so far this year.

As of May 29, 250 assaults had been investigated by Transit Bureau police officers — 30 more than the same time last year.