At least five people have suffered multiple stabbing and slashing injuries following a gruesome machete attack during Hanukkah celebrations at a rabbi’s home next to a synagogue in Monsey, New York.

The perpetrator, allegedly a black male, broke into the house of Rabbi Rottenberg Shul around 9:50pm local time, armed with a machete and began slashing and stabbing people, chasing the victims as they tried to flee the bloody chaos.

Video from the scene of the stabbings at a synagogue in Monsey where Chassidim were gathered for a Hanukkah celebration. pic.twitter.com/wQhWp9SrdA — Motti Seligson (@mottiseligson) December 29, 2019

According to some reports, he then tried to break into the adjacent synagogue, with people barricaded inside, but failed and fled the scene in a silver vehicle.

Video from the scene pic.twitter.com/anPwVW1Jhv — Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) December 29, 2019

As the day progressed, New York police reportedly arrested a possible suspect in a car that matched the description of a vehicle used to escape the synagogue. The arrest was made by NYPD 32nd precinct, which oversees the northeast of Harlem.

There were at least five victims – all Hasidic Jews – according to the local Orthodox Jews Public Affairs Council. It is not clear if anyone was killed, but at least two of those rushed to the hospital are reportedly in critical condition.

One of the victims was stabbed at least 6 times. The fifth/least severe case had a cut in his hand. Perp left in a vehicle with tag number HPT-5757 per the person who saw it and we confirmed it with him directly (but it was dark and rushed.) a Gray Nissan Sentra. — OJPAC Hudson Valley (@OJPACHV) December 29, 2019

"We are closely monitoring the reports of multiple people stabbed at a synagogue in Monsey, NY (Rockland County)," a representative of the New York City Police Department Counterterrorism Bureau tweeted.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responded to the attack, calling it “a despicable and cowardly act.” Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city “will not allow this to become the new normal” and will “use every tool we have to stop these attacks once and for all.”

Someone on the scene: The perpetrator came into the rabbi’s house, started stabbing people. Someone took a small table, threw it at him & chased him out. He ran next door to the synagogue, but they blocked the door & he couldn’t get in. He turned around & ran, jumped into a car. — Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt (@avitalrachel) December 29, 2019

Police launched an extensive manhunt while videos shared on social media show dozens of officers working at the scene.

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