The attack was the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting Jews in the region, including the massacre, on December 10th, at a kosher grocery store in New Jersey. Last month in Monsey, a man was stabbed while walking to a synagogue.
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo told the meeja that one of the five was very seriously wounded and remained in critical condition, the governor told reporters. The rabbi's son was one of those injured. His status and that of the other victims was not clear. Authorities have not provided a motive for the attack, but the Gov said it was an example of "larger problems".
Pictured here is Grafton E. Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake NY. He is presently in the custody of the Ramapo NJ police, facing five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. He was arraigned earlier today and pled not guilty to all charges. Bail was set at $5 million. According to an unnamed official, Mr Thomas's criminal history includes an arrest for assaulting a police horse [Ed., please check this!].
A lawyer representing Mr Thomas at the arraignment said he had no convictions. Whether he meant "convictions" in the criminal sense or in the sense of beliefs, a moral compass, is unclear. Also unclear is whether Mr Thomas, who appears to be a Person of Colour, has any connection with the Black Hebrew Israelites. Stay tuned.
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