New Jersey imam Stabbed Twice During Prayer Service By Another Muslim

An imam is in stable condition after being stabbed during a Sunday morning prayer service at a mosque in Paterson, New Jersey, according to local officials.

Imam Sayed Elnakib was stabbed during the first prayer of the day, around 5:30 a.m., at Omar Mosque in south Paterson while the congregation was kneeling for prayer, mosque spokesperson Abdul Hamdan told CNN.

Faith leaders at the Omar Mosque in Paterson said the suspect, 32-year-old Serif Zorba, has worshiped with them before, but is not a member.

After the incident, the suspect attempted to flee from the mosque, but congregants “were able to bring him down and apprehend him and hold him” until police arrived and arrested him, he said.

There were more than 200 congregants in the mosque at the time of the stabbing, Hamdan said. The spokesperson said he strongly believes that this was an isolated incident and assured all congregants “that the mosque is safe and to practice their faith, it is open.”

Mayor Andre Sayegh said he visited Imam Sayed Elnakib in the hospital soon after the incident. The mayor said the imam is in stable condition at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.

Zorba entered a not guilty plea through his attorney on Monday afternoon. Speaking through a Turkish interpreter, Zorba said he "didn't do anything."