An Illinois man has been charged with hate crimes after a horrifying incident in which he fatally stabbed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and wounded his mother.

This brutal attack specifically targeted them due to their religion and was purportedly in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as indicated by officials and Muslim rights activists on Sunday.

The young boy endured 26 stab wounds from a military-style knife with a serrated blade measuring 7 inches (18 cm), as reported by the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

The 32-year-old woman, also a victim of this vicious assault, sustained multiple stab wounds but is expected to survive, Reuters reported.

This traumatic event unfolded on Saturday in Plainfield Township, located approximately 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Chicago.

The suspect, identified as Joseph Czuba, 71, now faces charges that include first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crime, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, as stated by the sheriff’s office.

Upon arriving at the scene, the police discovered Czuba sitting outside the home with a cut on his forehead, while the victims were found inside a bedroom.

Written by staff