NEWARK, NJ – A violent incident on Friday led to the stabbing of two nurses and a medical resident inside of a New Jersey hospital. The attack happened in the pediatric intensive care unit at Newark Beth Israel Hospital, prompting an immediate response from local law enforcement.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Friday. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a “domestic dispute” that involved two hospital visitors, as indicated by an official statement from the hospital.
According to Newark’s Public Safety Director, Fritz Fragé, the situation escalated when 37-year-old Firdousi Abdul-Hakim allegedly attacked the hospital workers. The victims are now considered to be in stable condition.
Abdul-Hakim faces charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, as well as possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. Fortunately, the incident did not result in injuries to patients or family members who were present when the violence broke out. Abdul-Hakim was apprehended promptly following the attack.
Attempts to reach Abdul-Hakim through potential phone numbers were unsuccessful. The victims, made up of the two nurses and the medical resident, were not identified. Newark Beth Israel Hospital, home to over 800 doctors and 3,200 employees, is a teaching hospital established in 1901 with a capacity of 655 beds.