Woman arrested for stabbing rabbi with syringe in NYC

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 25 Oct, 21:50 · Archive

A woman was arrested for stabbing a rabbi with a syringe in Manhattan's Diamond District in a suspected antisemitic attack.

A woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a rabbi with a syringe during what police are investigating as an antisemitic attack in Manhattan. Anna Mochalova, 32, was arrested on Saturday and charged with assault as a hate crime, along with counts of menacing, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon.

The attack occurred around 6 p.m. on Wednesday near West 47th Street in the Diamond District. Video footage shows Mochalova stalking Yosef, a 26-year-old rabbi dressed in traditional Orthodox garb including a black hat, before stabbing him in the back with a syringe as he tried to escape. Yosef was taken to Bellevue Hospital but was released after approximately three hours.

Police say Mochalova attacked another man about two hours earlier. The 37-year-old Jewish victim told officers that a person deliberately bumped into him near West 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. When he confronted her, she spoke Russian and stabbed him in the arm with a sharp object. That victim declined medical attention at the scene.

Yosef told outlets he believes he was targeted because of his appearance. 'I never met that person before. She passes by other people. I'm visibly Jewish,' he said. He added that despite travelling the country, this was the first time he had personally experienced antisemitism. The rabbi returned to the Diamond District the day after the attack to continue his outreach work, saying 'We can't allow hate to stop who we are.'

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating both incidents. Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol credited its volunteers, other Shomrim groups and public tips with helping to secure the arrest.

How it is being reported

• Maniac who stabbed rabbi with syringe in NYC claims mistaken ID, as prosecutors say she spared Muslim from similar fateThe lawyer for the maniac who allegedly stabbed a rabbi and another Jewish man in two separate attacks just minutes apart in Midtown Manhattan claimed Sunday that her arrest was a case of mistaken identity. Anna Mochalova faces several charges for the two attacks on Wednesday – including a terrifying instance where she stalked and...New York Post · 25 Oct, 21:58
• Woman, 32, is arrested for stabbing Jewish man with a syringe in chilling attack on New York streetA woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting two Jewish men in separate anti-Semitic attacks on New York streets, police said.Daily Mail · 25 Oct, 21:35
• Woman busted in NYC rabbi syringe attack allegedly stabbed another Jewish man hours earlier: reportAnna Mochalova allegedly stalked a rabbi before stabbing him with a syringe in Manhattan's Diamond District, hours after attacking another man.Fox News · 25 Oct, 21:23
• Maniac busted for stabbing rabbi with syringe in NYC — as cops reveal she attacked another Jewish victim hours earlierAnna Mochalova, 32, was arrested on hate crime charges after stabbing a rabbi with a syringe and attacking another Jewish man in Manhattan.New York Post · 25 Oct, 16:52
• Rabbi stabbed with syringe in suspected antisemitic NYC attack returns to scene to spread ‘light’An ordained rabbi who believes he was targeted because he is visibly Jewish returned to Midtown’s Diamond District a day after a woman allegedly stalked and stabbed him with a syringe, vowing not to let hate intimidate him.New York Post · 24 Oct, 16:28

In this story: Anna Mochalova · Yosef · Manhattan Diamond District · New York Police Department · Manhattan Shomrim Safety Patrol

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem