Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy pledged on Friday to declare a state of emergency on antisemitism if elected as New York State attorney general. Komatireddy made the announcement at the site of a recent attack in Manhattan’s Diamond District, where a young rabbi was assaulted earlier this week.

The incident involved a 26-year-old rabbi, Yousef Krish, who was reportedly stalked and then stabbed with a syringe by a woman. The attack occurred Wednesday and was captured on video. Krish’s assailant remains unidentified and has not been apprehended, according to the New York Police Department, which is investigating through its Hate Crime Task Force.

Speaking at the location, Komatireddy emphasized the urgency of the problem, citing city data showing that although Jewish residents constitute roughly 10 to 12 percent of New York City’s population, they have been the targets of more than half of the confirmed hate crimes this year. “When I am attorney general, I will declare a state of emergency on antisemitism on day one,” she said.

The Republican candidate is challenging incumbent Democratic Attorney General Letitia James in the upcoming election. James, who has held the office since 2019, responded to Komatireddy’s statement by defending her record on combating antisemitism. She characterized Komatireddy’s pledge as “political theater” but did not provide further specifics on her actions related to the issue.

The syringe attack has heightened concerns about a rise in antisemitic incidents in New York City, prompting public calls for stronger law enforcement responses and broader community protections. The NYPD continues to investigate the stabbing while monitoring hate crimes citywide.