One of the holiest days of the year took an ugly turn Sunday when a religious leader was attacked inside a prominent New Jersey mosque.
Authorities are investigating an early morning stabbing inside the Omar Mosque on Getty Avenue in Paterson. The suspect had visited the mosque several times before to pray, they said.
The imam was leading prayer when the suspect, 32-year-old Serif Zorba, stabbed him multiple times in the back, police said. He's facing a number of charges including attempted murder. "As they kneeled forward in the prayer, this person pulled out a knife and lunged at the imam, stabbing him multiple times in the back," Abdul Hamden, mosque spokesperson, said.The congregants rushed the man waving the knife and held him down until police arrived and placed him in custody. Investigators are trying to figure out why he walked in and attacked the imam during the holiest month of the calendar year for Islamic faith.
Members continued with the four other daily prayers scheduled Sunday, pushing forward after the stabbing attack. The imam, a father of three and leader in the community, is recovering at the hospital. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh visited him, and said the iman is recovering and in better spirits.
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