WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Police in Maryland said on Tuesday that an assault against a rabbi who was attacked with a wooden stake was being probed as a hate crime and a suspect was arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incident took place in Silver Spring in Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rights advocates have noted rising threats against American Muslims<\/u><\/a>, Arabs<\/u><\/a> and Jews<\/u><\/a> since the eruption of Israel’s wars in Gaza<\/u><\/a> and Lebanon<\/u><\/a> following an Oct. 7, 2023<\/u><\/a>, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some recent incidents that have raised alarm over antisemitism include threats of violence against Jews at Cornell University that led to a conviction and sentencing<\/u><\/a>, an unsuccessful plot<\/u><\/a> to attack a New York City Jewish center and a physical assault<\/u><\/a> against a Jewish man in Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “For unknown reasons, the male suspect, identified as 47-year-old Junior Michael Reece, swung a wooden stake at the victim, striking him,” Montgomery County Police Department said in a statement. “This incident is being investigated as a hate crime.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The suspect was charged with felony assault and related crimes, police said, adding that the victim, who was not identified, suffered minor injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other recent violent U.S. incidents with Muslim and Arab victims include the attempted drowning<\/u><\/a> of a 3-year-old Muslim girl in Texas, the fatal stabbing<\/u><\/a> of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois, the stabbing<\/u><\/a> of a Muslim man in Texas, the beating<\/u><\/a> of a Muslim man in New York and a violent mob attack<\/u><\/a> on pro-Palestinian protesters in California.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKEY QUOTE<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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