New York Firefighter Arrested for Attacking Newsstand Worker He Thought was Terrorist

September 12, 2005 -- An off-duty firefighter was arrested yesterday for attacking a Greenwich Village newsstand worker with a shard of Plexiglas and saying the vendor looked like a terrorist, police sources said.

Edward Dailey, 27, of Battalion 50/Ladder 133 in Queens, was apparently intoxicated when he went to buy a pack of gum at the newsstand on West Third Street at MacDougal Street at about 5:10 p.m., police said.

Wearing his dress-uniform FDNY shirt and pants, Dailey began arguing with the 51-year-old newsstand worker, sources said.

It was not clear what the dispute was about, but Dailey allegedly told the Bangladeshi worker, "You look like you're al Qaeda." Dailey then allegedly pulled off a piece of the newsstand's Plexiglas and hurled it, cutting the worker's hand.

The victim was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was treated and released.

After a passer-by called 911, police busted Dailey on charges of felony assault and criminal mischief.

An FDNY spokesman declined to comment.