Transient accused of attacking woman in a hijab

By the Daily Post staff

A transient has been charged with a hate crime and battery after attacking a teenager in downtown Mountain View who was wearing a hijab, and calling the youth a “terrorist.”

Atoosa Biglari, 43, is facing charges stemming from an incident on the afternoon of July 1 near Castro and Mercy streets.

The 18-year-old victim was walking alone on Castro Street when Biglari crossed the street, screamed at the victim, accused her of “hacking” her, then called her a “terrorist,” according to the District Attorney’s office.

Next, Biglari grabbed the victim’s headscarf and began pulling it, the DA said. The victim called for help and the two women, who witnessed the attack, corroborated the victim’s account, stating that they saw Biglari push the victim into a wall and put her hands around the victim’s neck, according to the DA.

Biglari fled the scene on a bicycle, but was arrested a short time later, according to the DA.

Biglari also faces charges of brandishing a deadly weapon in a rude, angry, and threatening manner, which stemmed from of earlier incident on June 24, 2022, where she threatened another woman with a pair of scissors.

Biglari will be arraigned today (Aug. 30) at 1:30 at the Palo Alto Courthouse in Department 85. She faces more than a year in county jail if she is convicted of the three charges against her.

“We have no tolerance for those whose intolerance crosses the line into criminality and violence,” DA Jeff Rosen said. “Hate has no home in Santa Clara County. We also commend the courage of the two women who quickly stepped forward to assist the victim. They are wonderful examples of the national campaign slogan against hate – ‘if you see something, say something.’”