US: Man killed Muslim boy in hate crime linked to Israel-Hamas war, say police

A man in the United States was charged with a hate crime on Sunday after allegedly stabbing a six-year-old Muslim boy dead and seriously injuring his mother in an attack the police claim was linked to the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Associated Press reported.

The 32-year-old mother called the police late on Saturday after she was allegedly attacked by her 71-year-old landlord Joseph Czuba with a knife. The body of the child, a Palestinian-American, and the wounded woman were found at a home about 65 kilometres southwest of Chicago, the police said.

The woman is expected to survive the attack, according to the police.

Will County Sheriff’s Office said that its detectives have determined that the victims were targeted “due to them being Muslim” amid the Israel-Hamas war.

“Despite the suspect not providing a statement to detectives, personnel were able to gather enough information through interviews and evidence to formally charge Joseph Czuba with numerous criminal offenses,” the police said.

Beside hate crime, the charges include first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

While the police did not reveal the victims’ identities, the six-year-old’s paternal uncle said at a press conference on Sunday that the boy’s name is Wadea Al-Fayoume, the Associated Press reported.

On October...

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