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29th Dec 2019

Five people have been stabbed in a machete attack in a rabbi’s home in New York

Rebecca O'Keeffe

new york

This is horrific.

Late last night, an intruder forced his way into the home of a rabbi in New York, and stabbed five people.

The victims, all Hasidic members of the Jewish faith, were transported to local hospitals.

At the time of the violent attack, there was a party taking place in the home of the rabbi, celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

According to the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council, two of the victims are said to be in critical condition.

A suspect has been since taken into custody, and is being interviewed in NYPD’s 32nd precinct. He was said to have been found alone in a vehicle and has no prior arrests.

The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, released a statement condoning this violent act of hatred.


“I am horrified by the stabbing of multiple people at a synagogue in Rockland County tonight.”

“We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism in NY and we will hold the attacker accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“NY stands with the Jewish community.”

The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council co-founder Yossi Gestetner said that the incident occurred at around 9.50pm on Saturday (28 December).

The rabbi’s house is situated in Monsey, Rockland County, an area known for its high population of Orthodox Jews.

Speaking to local media, Gestetner said:

“Someone came in, face covered with a scarf, started stabbing people. Five people in total were stabbed, two of them were taken from the scene in critical condition.”

“One of the rabbi’s children was also stabbed.”