Imam stabbed while leading prayers at New Jersey mosque
By Livia Albeck Ripka and Corey Kilgannon
NEW JERSEY – An imam was stabbed Sunday (9) while he was leading early morning prayers at a mosque in Paterson, New Jersey, by a man who was subdued by worshippers, authorities and a community member said.
The man, whom prosecutors identified as Serif Zorba, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, officials said.
Zorba was “subdued by congregants” by the time police arrived at the Omar Mosque after 5:30 a.m., according to a news release from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mayor Andre Sayegh of Paterson identified the imam as Sayed Elnakib. Prosecutors said that the imam, 65, sustained “nonfatal stab wounds” and was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Centre.
The community member, Sikander Khan, said that the attack took place just after morning prayers began, when a man leaped forward and stabbed Elnakib repeatedly.
Khan, a Paterson city employee who is co-chair of the Muslim caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, said that Elnakib underwent surgery and was in stable condition but that he had liver damage.
Khan said the attacker, who had been to the mosque to worship before, was unknown to other congregants and was not an “active member”.
“Nobody really knew him,” Khan said. “We don’t know what the motive behind his action is.”
“He would come in and kind of sit isolated away from everyone else and didn’t really communicate with anyone,” Khan added. “We’re extremely baffled and confused about why he would do such a thing. Our prayers are with the imam and his family and wish him quick recovery.”
Sayegh, who visited Elnakib in the hospital Sunday, said that he was hopeful he would make a full recovery. In response to the attack, the mayor added, the city would step up its police presence at mosques. “People don’t have to be afraid to pray,” he said.
Neither he nor the prosecutors offered any details about a possible motive.
Alaa Abdelaziz, a Paterson council member, said on Facebook that he was “deeply saddened” by the attack. “As a community, it is important that we come together to support one another and denounce all forms of hate and violence,” he said.
Zorba, who also faces weapons-related charges, will appear before a Superior Court judge in Paterson Monday (10) afternoon, prosecutors said. If convicted on the attempted murder charge, he faces a maximum of 20 years in New Jersey state prison.
-New York Times
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