NY Muslim cabby's attacker indicted on hate crime charge

New York, Aug 31 (ANI): New York film student, Michael Enright, who was accused of stabbing a Muslim cabby in Manhattan last week, has been indicted on charges of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault under the category of hate crimes.

Enright is being held without bail in a psychiatric ward, and would reportedly face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the attempted murder charge.

The 21-year-old man was not in Manhattan Criminal Court during the brief hearing and the indictment is expected to be unsealed on September 22, The New York Times reports.

Enright allegedly slashed cab driver, Sharif Ahmed, in his throat, face and arm last Tuesday after learning that he is a Muslim. But, Ahmed survived the attack.

The student, who spent time in Afghanistan working on a documentary, allegedly yelled, "This is a checkpoint," before stabbing Ahmed.

"This is the checkpoint, and I have to bring you down," Ahmed claimed.

Ahmed related this incident to the anger aroused by the controversy surrounding the proposed Muslim community center and mosque coming up near Ground Zero. (ANI)