Joseph Czuba, a 71-year-old Illinois man, was charged with hate crimes for fatally stabbing a 6-year-old Muslim boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, and injuring his mother, Hanaan Shahin.
The attack, driven by religious animosity and linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict, occurred in Plainfield Township, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
The boy sustained 26 stab wounds from a military-style knife with a 7-inch serrated blade, while his 32-year-old mother suffered multiple stab wounds but is expected to survive.
President Joe Biden condemned the act, emphasising that the victims, Palestinian Muslims, sought refuge in America for peace and security. Czuba faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two hate crime counts, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that both victims were targeted due to their Muslim faith and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict. Czuba, exercising his constitutional right, did not provide statements during police interviews.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) identified the victims and urged an end to Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Palestinian racism. FBI Director Christopher Wray cautioned vigilance against increasing threats, especially from potential lone actors influenced by recent events. He emphasised the need to be watchful in this heightened environment.
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