Hate Crime Tragedy: Muslim Child and Mother Attacked in Illinois

Wadea Al-Fayoume, who has died after a stabbing attack in Illinois.

In Plainfield, Illinois, a 71-year-old man has been charged with murder and a hate crime for stabbing a child and his mother because they were Muslims. The authorities determined that the victims were targeted due to their religion and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Hamas and the Israelis. Tragically, six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume lost his life, and his mother sustained serious injuries. The incident unfolded when a 32-year-old woman called 911, reporting that her landlord had attacked her with a knife.

The mother, in text messages shared with CAIR International, the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the US, described how the landlord tried to strangle her when she opened the door and then stabbed her while shouting, "You Muslims must die!" She sought refuge in the bathroom to call for help and returned to find her son had been stabbed.

The police found the 71-year-old suspect at the scene and the two victims inside the home, both with more than a dozen stab wounds to their chest, torso, and arms. The suspect, identified as Joseph M Czuba, was the property's landlord. Czuba was charged with murder, two counts of hate crimes and other offenses.

Additionally, there have been reports of three incidents targeting Palestinians and Jews in New York, according to the police.

Murder suspect Joseph Czuba is now awaiting his court appearance.