A videograb shows suspect (encircled) moving towards the Imam at a mosque in New Jersey.

Gulf Today Report

A man stabbed an imam of a mosque during Fajr prayer in New Jersey on Sunday. The incident took place on the Omer mosque in South Paterson when the Fajr congregation was kneeling for prayer.

The imam, Sayed Al Nakib was stabbed twice by a person who was also part of the congregation.

Surveillance footage showed the accused lunged forward from the spot and stabbed the Imam as he was kneeling.

The knife-wielding man was apprehended by worshipers and handed over to the police.

The reason the assault isn't clear yet.

Mayor Andre Sayegh said that the imam is in stable condition but is being treated for a punctured lung.

The mosque’s spokesperson said that the incident has been treated as an isolated one, and the mosque is safe.

However, the Paterson authorities introduced police presence at mosques as a precautionary measure.

Councilman Al Abdel Aziz expressed his sadness about the incident and said,  “While it is unclear what motivated the attacker, there is no justification for violence of any kind, especially in a sacred space.”