South Bay Hate Crime Probed

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A 43-year-old transient woman has been charged with a hate crime in connection with an attack on a teenager who was wearing a hijab last month in Mountain View, authorities said.

Atoosa Biglari was charged with a hate crime and battery, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said.

Biglari was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at the Palo Alto Courthouse. She faces more than a year in county jail if she is convicted of the three charges against her, the DA's Office said.

Biglari is accused of calling her teen victim a "terrorist" during the July 1 broad daylight in Mountain View's downtown area.

"We have no tolerance for those whose intolerance crosses the line into criminality and violence," DA Jeff Rosen said in a statement.

"Hate has no home in Santa Clara County."

Officers at 3 p.m. July 1 dispatched to Castro and Mercy streets determined the 18-year-old victim was walking alone on Castro Street when Biglari crossed the street, screaming at the victim, accusing her of "hacking" her, and calling her a "terrorist," the DA's Office said.

Biglari grabbed the victim's headscarf and began pulling it, the DA's Office said.
The victim called for help and two women who witnessed the attack rushed to help and later 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, the DA's Office said.

Police arrested Biglari, who fled the scene on a bicycle, a short time later.

Biglari will be arraigned this afternoon, Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 1:30 at the Palo Alto Courthouse in department 85.

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.'"

Biglari also faces separate charges in connection with a June 24 incident in which she's accused of threatening a woman with a pair of scissors, the DA's Office said.

Rosen commended the two women who rushed to the victim's aid when she called for help.
"They are wonderful examples of the national campaign slogan against hate – 'if you see something, say something,'" Rosen said.