During a campaign speech in upstate New York, a man climbs onto the stage and stands in front of US Congressman Lee Zeldin. The stranger tries to stab the Republican with a knife - but he is able to fend him off successfully.
US Congressman Lee Zeldin was attacked at a campaign rally in upstate New York. The assailant attempted to hit the Republican politician in the neck with a stabbing weapon, Monroe County Police said. He said to Zeldin: "You're done."
Zeldin wants to be governor of New York in November's election. At the time of the attack, he was delivering a speech in the small town of Perinton, about 500 kilometers northwest of New York City. According to the announcement, a man climbed onto the stage at around 8 p.m. local time and attacked the politician.
Bystanders stepped in and held the man back until police arrived. A witness filmed the attack. The recording is now circulating on social media. Nobody got hurt. The attacker was later identified as David Jakubonis, 43. A criminal complaint was filed against him.
Trump ally Zeldin tweeted after the incident: "Someone tried to stab me on stage at tonight's event but luckily I was able to grab his wrist and stop him for a few moments before others overpowered him."
Video of the incident shows Zeldin speaking on a stage framed by hay bales outside a veterans facility. The attacker slowly approaches him. He wears shorts, a T-shirt and a baseball cap that identifies him as a veteran of the Iraq war from 2003. When he tries to attack Zeldin with some kind of jagged brass knuckles, Zeldin fends him off before bystanders intervene.
His opponent, the incumbent Democratic governor Kathy Hochul, wrote on Twitter that she was "relieved" that Zeldin had not been injured. "I strongly condemn this violent behavior," she added.
