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Monsey stabbing: Trump urges unity against anti-Semitism 'scourge' Monsey stabbing: NYC mayor vows action on anti-Semitism 'crisis'
(about 3 hours later)
US President Donald Trump has called for unity to fight against anti-Semitism, a day after a knife attack at a rabbi's house in New York state. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a series of measures to tackle a "crisis" of anti-Semitic attacks, following a mass stabbing.
"We must all come together to fight, confront and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism," Mr Trump said. Mr de Blasio said security would be stepped up in Jewish areas and schools would teach students to tackle hate.
At least five people were injured in the attack in Monsey, north of New York City on Saturday. At least five people were injured in the knife attack, at a rabbi's house in New York state on Saturday.
The attacker was later arrested in New York's Harlem area. He was charged with attempted murder. President Donald Trump in response to the attack called for unity to fight "the scourge" of anti-Semitism.
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 in Monsey, north of New York City, which was hosting a Hanukkah celebration, pulled out a large knife and began stabbing people.
Guests reportedly threw tables and chairs at the man, who then attempted to enter a synagogue next door before fleeing in a car. The suspected knifeman, named by police as Grafton Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake, New York, has been charged with attempted murder.
His vehicle registration was passed to police and licence-plate scanners picked up the car as it entered New York City, where he was detained. What did the mayor say?
Police named him as Grafton Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake, New York. He was charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. Just a day before the attack, Mr de Blasio had announced extra police patrols in three areas of Brooklyn with large Jewish populations following a series of anti-Semitic threats and attacks.
What are New York authorities saying about the attack? "The spirit we bring today is one of resolve and relentlessness. We will keep adding as many measures as it takes to end this crisis," he told reporters on Sunday.
Mr de Blasio said additional officers would now be deployed to the districts of Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park.
"People in the community will see our officers present in front of houses of worship and out on the streets. We have to give people a sense of security, and we have to show that this horrible trend we've seen over the last weeks will be stopped dead in its tracks," he said.
Mr de Blasio said changes would be made to the curriculum at schools in Brooklyn starting from next month. He said they would focus on "stopping hate... on building mutual respect, to help young people understand what hate crimes really mean and the dangers they pose to all of us".
Mr de Blasio said the "tendency towards hate and acting on hate" had grown with the onset of social media. "We need some new standards and norms in this society for how to deal with this," he said.
"The social media companies try to stand apart and act like they have no culpability, that's just not true. They have to be part of the solution too."
What are other New York authorities saying?
State Governor Andrew Cuomo described the attack as "domestic terrorism". Hatred based on race, colour and creed was an "American cancer spreading in the body politic", the governor told a news conference on Sunday.State Governor Andrew Cuomo described the attack as "domestic terrorism". Hatred based on race, colour and creed was an "American cancer spreading in the body politic", the governor told a news conference on Sunday.
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.
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.
The man then fled in a car. His vehicle registration was passed to police and number-plate scanners picked up the car as it entered New York City, where he was detained.
What other reaction has there been?What other reaction has there been?
President Trump said the attack was "horrific".President Trump said the attack was "horrific".
"We must all come together to fight, confront and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism," he said.
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.
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.
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.
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