Man arrested for knife attack on Manhattan court officers faces attempted murder charges.

An alarming incident occurred at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Monday, June 16, 2025, when Jonathan Wohl, a 37-year-old man with a noted history of disruptive behavior, assaulted multiple court officers. Authorities have classified the attack as intentional, emphasizing Wohl’s prior reputation as a “problematic presence” in the courthouse over the past two years.

Wohl entered the courthouse around 9:45 a.m., carrying a black lunchbox and armed with a four-inch, curved-blade knife affixed to metal knuckles. Within his possession were writings, including the phrases “Give me liberty or give me death” and “Protect Rodney Hinton,” the latter referencing an Ohio man currently facing charges for allegedly killing a police officer. These details have prompted investigators to explore Wohl’s animosity toward the judicial system as a potential motivation behind the assault.

During the assault, Wohl targeted the court officers with a ferocity that left one officer with a chipped jaw and another requiring stitches for neck wounds. Surveillance footage indicates that Wohl not only slashed and stabbed two officers but also physically assaulted three additional officers, leading to various injuries, including broken ribs.

Following the violent confrontation, Wohl was apprehended after a coordinated response from about a dozen court officers, who managed to subdue him. He faces serious charges, including attempted murder and assault on police officers. At his arraignment, which took place inside the same courthouse where the attack occurred, Wohl was held without bail.

The episode has raised significant concerns regarding security within the courthouse, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by court officers. Following the arraignment, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed solidarity with the injured officers and underscored the critical role they play in maintaining safety within the judicial system.

Wohl’s history includes 18 prior arrests, although he has yet to serve time in state prison. He was undergoing psychological evaluation at Bellevue Hospital following the attack. The incident reiterates the ongoing challenges that court officers face and the need for effective training and resources to ensure their safety in such precarious environments.

The consequences of this attack will likely reverberate throughout the judicial community as discussions about courthouse security become increasingly urgent. As it stands, all injured officers have since been released from the hospital, marking a small measure of relief amid the troubling developments of the day.

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