Attacker Who Stabbed Boston Shliach Faces Hate Crime Charges

by CrownHeights.info

The assailant in the stabbing of Boston Shliach Rabbi Shlomo Noginski faced a judge this week, and is now also facing Hate Crime charges.

Khaled Awad, who emigrated to the United States from Egypt, had targeted Rabbi Noginski outside the Shaloah House in the Brighton Section of Boston, initially flashing a gun and demanding the Rabbi Noginski hand over the keys to a vehicle. After it became obvious that Awad intended to kidnap him, Naginski fled on foot, leading to a foot chase that ended with Noginski stabbed and Awad under arrest.

Awad was charged with a civil rights violation causing injury and intimidation with bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and six other charges including hate crimes.

Rabbi Noginski, a father of 12, was stabbed eight times in the arm and shoulder, naming the incident a miracle that it was not any worse.

Awad’s court-appointed defense lawyer argued that Awad was simply attempting a crime of opportunity and that he was off his bipolar medication at the time. Awad was ordered to undergo further psychiatric evaluation at a state hospital.