“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Levi Rosenblatt and the entire Chabad-Lubavitch community in the aftermath of this disturbing attack. New York City stands with the Crown Heights community, and under the leadership of the New York City Police Department, we are monitoring this case very closely and conducting a thorough investigation. Commissioner Bratton has also ordered the NYPD to increase security at Jewish religious institutions across the city as a precaution while the investigation is underway. I look forward to visiting the community in the coming days to hear concerns and reassure people of the City’s commitment to all of our safety and security.

“This incident also highlights the urgent need for increased services for emotionally disturbed or troubled people. Preliminary reports suggest the assailant in this case suffered from mental health issues. We as a society must do more for those who struggle with these challenges, and it is why the City has launched a new plan to improve access to mental health care and treatment for those in need.

“Finally, we commend the police officers who answered the call to this incident. They responded quickly to a tense and dangerous situation, and while any loss of life is tragic, we are fortunate that, thanks to the actions of our officers early this morning, more people were not injured or worse. The job our brave men and women perform on a daily basis to protect the people of New York City is often perilous and difficult, and we thank them for their service.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)