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Monsey stabbing: Attack was domestic terrorism, NY governor says | Monsey stabbing: Attack was domestic terrorism, NY governor says |
(32 minutes later) | |
The stabbing at a rabbi's house in New York state was "domestic terrorism", state governor Andrew Cuomo says. | The stabbing at a rabbi's house in New York state was "domestic terrorism", state governor Andrew Cuomo says. |
Hatred based on race, colour and creed was an "American cancer spreading in the body politic", the governor told a news conference. | Hatred based on race, colour 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. | 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. | 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. | Witnesses said the attacker burst into the house, which was hosting a Hanukkah celebration, pulled out a large knife and began attacking people. |
Guests reportedly threw tables and chairs at the man, who then attempted to enter a synagogue next door before fleeing in a car. | 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. | 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. | |
What did Governor Cuomo say? | What did Governor Cuomo say? |
He described the attack as "very disturbing" but said it was not an isolated incident, adding that hostility based on race, religion and immigration status was spreading across the country. | He described the attack as "very disturbing" but said it was not an isolated incident, adding that hostility based on race, religion and immigration status was spreading across the country. |
"It is domestic terrorism. These are people who intend to create mass harm, mass violence, and generate fear based on race, colour, creed. That is the definition of terrorism," he said. | "It is domestic terrorism. These are people who intend to create mass harm, mass violence, and generate fear based on race, colour, creed. That is the definition of terrorism," he said. |
"Just because they don't come from another country doesn't mean they are not terrorists. They should be prosecuted as domestic terrorists." | "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. | "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. | 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. | Two of the victims were still in hospital, police said. |
What happened? | 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). | 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. | "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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | Local police said the attacker - who has not yet been identified - would face five charges of attempted murder and one of burglary. |
What other reaction has there been? | What other reaction has there been? |
President Trump has not yet responded to the stabbing but his daughter Ivanka - who converted to Judaism - tweeted that it was an "act of pure evil". | President Trump has not yet responded to the stabbing but his daughter Ivanka - who converted to Judaism - tweeted that it was an "act of pure evil". |
In Israel, President Reuven Rivlin expressed his "shock and outrage" at the attack. | In Israel, President Reuven Rivlin expressed his "shock and outrage" at the attack. |
"The rise of anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem, and certainly not just the State of Israel's problem," he said in a statement. | "The rise of anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem, and certainly not just the State of Israel's problem," he said in a statement. |
"We must work together to confront this evil, which is raising its head again and is a genuine threat around the world." | "We must work together to confront this evil, which is raising its head again and is a genuine threat around the world." |
Steve Gold from the Jewish Federation in Rockland County said the US had failed the Jewish community. | Steve Gold from the Jewish Federation in Rockland County said the US had failed the Jewish community. |
"My parents were Holocaust survivors and my father made me promise to do what I can to make sure it never happens again. Today I can say I failed my father. The US has failed my parents and all Holocaust survivors. This cannot continue," he said. | "My parents were Holocaust survivors and my father made me promise to do what I can to make sure it never happens again. Today I can say I failed my father. The US has failed my parents and all Holocaust survivors. This cannot continue," he said. |
The attack follows a series of anti-Semitic threats and attacks in and around New York City. On Friday Mayor Bill de Blasio announced extra police patrols in three areas of Brooklyn. | The attack follows a series of anti-Semitic threats and attacks in and around New York City. On Friday Mayor Bill de Blasio announced extra police patrols in three areas of Brooklyn. |
Responding to the attack in Monsey, Mr de Blasio said he could not "overstate the fear people are feeling right now". | Responding to the attack in Monsey, Mr de Blasio said he could not "overstate the fear people are feeling right now". |
"We will not allow this to become the new normal. We'll use every tool we have to stop these attacks once and for all," he said. | "We will not allow this to become the new normal. We'll use every tool we have to stop these attacks once and for all," he said. |
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah marks the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Syrian Greeks in the Second Century BC and the recapture of Jerusalem. | The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah marks the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Syrian Greeks in the Second Century BC and the recapture of Jerusalem. |
Are anti-Semitic attacks on the rise in the US? | Are anti-Semitic attacks on the rise in the US? |
On Friday New York city police's hate crimes unit said it was investigating eight anti-Semitic incidents reported since 13 December. | On Friday New York city police's hate crimes unit said it was investigating eight anti-Semitic incidents reported since 13 December. |
They included a threat by a man who walked into an Orthodox Jewish community organisation's headquarters in Brooklyn and threatened to shoot someone. In another incident a 30-year-old woman reportedly slapped three women in the face. | They included a threat by a man who walked into an Orthodox Jewish community organisation's headquarters in Brooklyn and threatened to shoot someone. In another incident a 30-year-old woman reportedly slapped three women in the face. |
New York Police Department commissioner Dermot Shea has said hate crimes in New York City are up 22% this year. | New York Police Department commissioner Dermot Shea has said hate crimes in New York City are up 22% this year. |
"You see a swastika being drawn, you see a brick being thrown through a window, you see a woman walking down the street with her kids and having her wig ripped off," he said. | "You see a swastika being drawn, you see a brick being thrown through a window, you see a woman walking down the street with her kids and having her wig ripped off," he said. |
Earlier this month officials in New Jersey said a gun attack that killed a detective and three people in a Jewish supermarket was being investigated as "potential acts of domestic terror, fuelled both by anti-Semitism and anti-law enforcement beliefs". | Earlier this month officials in New Jersey said a gun attack that killed a detective and three people in a Jewish supermarket was being investigated as "potential acts of domestic terror, fuelled both by anti-Semitism and anti-law enforcement beliefs". |
In April a gunman killed a female rabbi and wounded three people at a synagogue in San Diego. | In April a gunman killed a female rabbi and wounded three people at a synagogue in San Diego. |
That attack came exactly six months after the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in US history, when a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. | That attack came exactly six months after the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in US history, when a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. |
Have you been affected by what's happened? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by what's happened? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
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