Monsey stabbing: Attack was domestic terrorism, NY governor of US says

Ns News Online Desk: The stabbing at a rabbi’s house in New York state was “domestic terrorism”, state governor Andrew Cuomo says. Hatred based on race, color and creed was an “American cancer spreading in the body politic”, the governor told a news conference. He called for a domestic terrorism law in the state to prosecute such crimes.

At least five people were stabbed in the attack in Monsey, north of the city of New York. The attacker was later arrested in New York’s Harlem area. Witnesses said the attacker burst into the house, which was hosting a Hanukkah celebration, pulled out a large knife and began attacking people.

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The threat of rising anti-Semitism Guests reportedly threw tables and chairs at the man, who then attempted to enter a synagogue next door before fleeing in a car.

However his vehicle registration was passed to police and license plate scanners picked up the car as it entered New York City, where he was detained. Police have named him as Grafton Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake, New York. Just because they don’t come from another country doesn’t mean they are not terrorists. They should be prosecuted as domestic terrorists.”

“We are not going to let this poison spread. No one else can defeat this county, but this country can defeat itself,” he added. The attack came a day after New York police said officers were stepping up patrols in heavily Jewish districts following a spate of anti-Semitic threats and attacks.Two of the victims were still in hospital, police said.
What happened?

A man brandishing a machete attacked a Hanukkah celebration at the rabbi’s property in Monsey – an area with a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The incident happened at about 22:00 on Saturday (03:00 GMT Sunday). “The house had many dozens of people in there,” Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder of OJPAC for the Hudson Valley region, told the New York Times.

He said the assailant had his face partially covered by a scarf during the attack and the rabbi’s son was one of those he wounded, Mr Gestetner said.

Aron Kohn, 65, was in the rabbi’s home at the time. He told the paper: “I was praying for my life. He started attacking people right away as soon as he came in the door. We didn’t have time to react at all.”Mr Kohn said that the attacker then tried to enter a synagogue next to the house, but people inside had locked the door. Local police said the attacker – who has not yet been identified – would face five charges of attempted murder and one of burglary.