“I feared for my life”, Mr Shwartz told the BoroPark24 blog.
“The trauma of being attacked by someone who seemed to want revenge will stay with me forever. I want to thank the NYPD, Shomrim and Hatzolah for saving my life.”
Mr Schwartz said that his attacker kept yelling “Allah” during the assault. He said he did not know why he had been attacked, but that it was “probably because I’m Jewish”.
Mr Afzal was subsequently arrested and arraigned later in the day, charged with attempted assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, menacing and harassment. He has eight prior arrests.
"I went to him when he was handcuffed, 'what did I do to you that you tried to murder me? Tell me.' He didn't answer back," Mr Schwartz said.
The car service where Mr Afzal was working informed US news outlets that he had been let go from his job.
