Image copyright AFPThe stabbing at a rabbi’s house in New York state was “domestic terrorism”, state governor Andrew Cuomo says.
Hatred based on race, colour and creed was an “American cancer spreading in the body politic”, the governor told a news conference.
He called for a domestic terrorism law in the state to prosecute such crimes.
At least five people were stabbed in the attack in Monsey, north of the city of New York. The attacker was later arrested in New York’s Harlem area.
Witnesses said the attacker burst into the house, which was hosting a Hanukkah celebration, pulled out a large knife and began attacking people.
Guests reportedly threw tables and chairs at the man, who then attempted to enter a synagogue next door before fleeing in a car.
However his vehicle registration was passed to police and license plate scanners picked up the car as it entered New York City, where he was detained.
Police have named him as Grafton Thomas, 37, of Greenwood Lake, New York.
He has been charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary, the Associated Press reports.
What did Governor Cuomo say?
He described the attack as “very disturbing” but said it was not an isolated incident, adding that hostility based on race, religion and immigration status was spreading across the country.
“It is domestic terrorism. These are people who intend to create mass harm, mass violence, and generate fear based on race, colour, creed. That is the definition of terrorism,” he said.
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“Just because they don’t come from another country doesn’t mean they are not terrorists. They should be prosecuted as domestic terrorists.”
“We are not going to let this poison spread. No one else can defeat this county, but this country can defeat itself,” he added.
The attack came a day after New York police said officers were stepping up patrols in heavily Jewish districts following a spate of anti-Semitic threats and attacks.
Two of the victims were still in hospital, police said.
What happened?
A man brandishing a machete attacked a Hanukkah celebration at the rabbi’s property in Monsey – an area with a large population of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The incident happened at about 22:00 on Saturday (03:00 GMT Sunday).
“The house had many dozens of people in there,” Yossi Gestetner, a co-founder of OJPAC for the Hudson Valley region, told the New York Times.
He said the assailant had his face partially covered by a scarf during the attack and the rabbi’s son was one of those he wounded, Mr Gestetner said.
Aron Kohn, 65, was in the rabbi’s home at the time. He told the paper: “I was praying for my life. He started attacking people right away as soon as he came in the door. We didn’t have time to react at all.”
Mr Kohn said that the attacker then tried to enter a synagogue next to the house, but people inside had locked the door.
Local police said the attacker – who has not yet been identified – would face five charges of attempted murder and one of burglary.
What other reaction has there been?
President Trump has not yet responded to the stabbing but his daughter Ivanka – who converted to Judaism – tweeted that it was an “act of pure evil”.
In Israel, President Reuven Rivlin expressed his “shock and outrage” at the attack.
“The rise of anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem, and certainly not just the State of Israel’s problem,” he said in a statement.
“We must work together to confront this evil, which is raising its head again and is a genuine threat around the world.”
Steve Gold from the Jewish Federation in Rockland County said the US had failed the Jewish community.
“My parents were Holocaust survivors and my father made me promise to do what I can to make sure it never happens again. Today I can say I failed my father. The US has failed my parents and all Holocaust survivors. This cannot continue,” he said.
The attack follows a series of anti-Semitic threats and attacks in and around New York City. On Friday Mayor Bill de Blasio announced extra police patrols in three areas of Brooklyn.
Responding to the attack in Monsey, Mr de Blasio said he could not “overstate the fear people are feeling right now”.
“We will not allow this to become the new normal. We’ll use every tool we have to stop these attacks once and for all,” he said.