Lawyer argues alleged Hanukkah attacker incompetent to stand trial

A psychiatrist has found the man accused of stabbing five Jews in Monsey, N.Y., during a Hanukkah celebration last month too incompetent to stand trial, according to the man’s lawyer.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Michael Sussman, the lawyer for Grafton Thomas, said he has asked a federal judge to hold a competency evaluation for his client.  

The court gave the U.S. attorney’s office two weeks to respond to the request, Sussman reportedly said. 

The U.S. attorney’s office did not comment to the media on Monday, according to AP. 

Thomas was arrested after a stabbing on Dec. 28 in the Orthodox Jewish community outside of New York City. The stabbing wounded five Hasidic Jews. 

Josef Neumann, a 72-year-old victim of the attack, remains in a coma with a fractured skull and other injuries, according to AP.

Thomas has reportedly pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges in Rockland County. He also reportedly pleaded not guilty to 10 hate crime charges in federal court on Jan. 13. 

Thomas is being held without bail in federal custody, according to AP.