Daily US Times, New York: New York police said, at least five people have been stabbed at a house of a rabbi when the house was hosting a religious celebration.

The incident happened at about 22:00 local time on Saturday.

The attacker burst into the house when dozens of people in there.

Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council (OJPAC) said in a tweet that one of the victims was stabbed at least six times.

The suspect fled but was taken into custody later. The motives of the attack are not immediately clear.

Just yesterday, New York Police said officers were stepping up patrols in heavily Jewish districts following a spate of anti-Semitic threats and attacks. The attack came a day after the announcement.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described the attack as ‘despicable and cowardly act’.

What Happened?

CBC New York reported, 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.

65-year-old Aron Kohn, who was at the scene, 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.’

The attacker then tried to enter a synagogue, but he couldn’t manage to do that because people inside had locked the door.

The man then fled with a car. Witnesses reported the car number to the police and later the suspect taken into custody.