PATERSON, NJ – A dramatic scene unfolded yesterday, at the Omar Mosque located at 501 Getty Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson Police Department and New Jersey State Police were called to the scene at approximately 5:37 a.m. on reports of a stabbing.
Upon arrival, officers found a 65-year-old male with non-fatal stab wounds and a 32-year-old suspect, Serif Zorba, who had been subdued by congregants inside the mosque. The victim was quickly transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson for treatment, while Zorba was taken into custody.
Following an investigation, Zorba was arrested and charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He will appear at Central Judicial Processing (CJP) Court tomorrow, where the State will file a motion for pretrial detention that will be scheduled before a Superior Court Judge.
The motive behind the stabbing remains unclear, and the Paterson Police Department, along with the New Jersey State Police, continue to investigate the incident. Authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the attack and to determine any connections between the suspect and the victim.
