Hanukkah Stabbing at Rabbi's House in New York Leaves 5 Injured, Hate Crime Police Task Force Investigates

https://www.newsweek.com/hannukah-stabbing-rabbis-house-new-york-5-injured-hate-crime-investigation-1479517

According to the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC), reports of a mass stabbing were made at around 9.50 p.m. on December 28, 2019 at a house in Monsey, Rockland County—approximately 30 miles north of New York City.

Local and state police attended the scene where five members of the Hasidic community were stabbed during Hanukkah festivities. All five stab victims have been taken to a local hospital. Two have been declared critical.

The suspected perpetrator, who was later identified by authorities as Grafton Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake, reportedly made an escape in a Nissan Sentra after the attack. He was later apprehended in Manhattan. In a Facebook post, the Ramapo Police Department said Thomas was arraigned in court late Sunday morning on five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. According to The Associated Press, Thomas pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $5 million.