Five hospitalised after stabbing incident during Hanukkah celebrations in New York’s Monsey; suspect located, motive yet to be ascertained

Monsey/New York: Jewish organizations are reporting multiple people were stabbed at a synagogue in Monsey, New York while celebrating Hanukkah late Saturday night. Photos and videos posted on Twitter show a large emergency response with paramedics running and pushing stretchers. A number of police and emergency vehicles can be seen in the images.

Video from the scene of the stabbings at a synagogue in Monsey where Chassidim were gathered for a Hanukkah celebration. pic.twitter.com/wQhWp9SrdA

— Motti Seligson (@mottiseligson) December 29, 2019

The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau says it is “closely monitoring the reports of multiple people stabbed at a synagogue" in Rockland County, New York. The Anti-Defamation League of New York and New Jersey says it’s also aware of reports and is on the way to the scene in Monsey.

We are closely monitoring the reports of multiple people stabbed at a synagogue in Monsey, NY (Rockland County) pic.twitter.com/cHoQnbneKO

— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) December 29, 2019

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Monsey is about an hour north of New York City. Ramapo police, which services Monsey, declined to the comment to The Associated Press. The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council for the Hudson Valley region tweeted that reports of at least five people were stabbed just before 10 pm. at the house of a Hasidic rabbi while they were celebrating Hanukkah. The five people were taken to hospitals for treatment. It is unclear what the extent of their injuries are or a motive in the stabbing. It appears the synagogue was being ran out of the rabbi’s house. New York State Attorney General Leticia James said she was “deeply disturbed" by Saturday’s incident. “I am deeply disturbed by the situation unfolding in Monsey, New York tonight," she tweeted. “There is zero tolerance for acts of hate of any kind and we will continue to monitor this horrific situation. I stand with the Jewish community tonight and every night.” The stabbings in Monsey come on the heels of apparently anti-Semitic attacks reported throughout New York during Hanukkah. Saturday was the seventh night of Hanukkah. Around New York City, police have gotten at least six reports this week — and eight since 13 December — of attacks possibly propelled by anti-Jewish bias.