A New York City man has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime for allegedly stabbing a man as he unlocked a mosque for morning prayers last year. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown says Friday Bernhard Laufer was awaiting arraignment on attempted murder and assault charges in the alleged bias attack.
Laufer was in custody Friday and unable to comment. Attorney information was not immediately available. Brown says he faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
Brown says Bashir Ahmad received stiches and staples after he was stabbed repeatedly while unlocking the front door of a Queens mosque last November. He says Ahmad was stabbed in his hands, legs and back. Brown says Laufer threatened him with an anti-Muslim slur.