Hanukkah attacker arrested

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Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg (left) with other Orthodox Jewish community members near his home in Monsey, N.Y., on Sunday Associated Press/Photo by Craig Ruttle

The man accused in a Saturday night stabbing spree at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, N.Y., pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. Authorities arrested Grafton Thomas, 37, based on witness descriptions of his license plate. Witnesses said Thomas entered Orthodox Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg’s home during a Hanukkah candlelight ceremony wearing a face mask and wielding a large sword. Thomas’ family said he has a history of mental illness.

How are authorities responding? Local police said they would increase the security presence in the Orthodox Jewish community, and Jewish-led security groups called for additional funds. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the stabbing “domestic terrorism.” Earlier this month, two gunmen in Jersey City attacked a kosher supermarket. They killed two people before dying in a firefight with police.

Dig deeper: Read Sophia Lee’s report in WORLD Magazine about increasing anti-Semitism in the United States.

Samantha Gobba

Samantha is a freelancer for WORLD Digital. She is a graduate of the World Journalism Institute, holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Hillsdale College, and has a multiple-subject teaching credential from California State University. Samantha resides in Chico, Calif., with her husband and their two sons.