Man who slashed Muslim cabbie in NYC charged

A 21-year-old man who slashed a New York cab driver after asking if he was a Muslim has been charged with second segree attempted murder.

Michael Enright, 21, was charged with second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime, second-degree assault as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.

He is being held without bail after not entering a plea at Manhattan Criminal Court, reports said.

Reports quoted the police as saying that the driver, Queens resident Ahmed Sharif, 43, picked up Enright early Tuesday morning and after riding a few blocks uptown, Enright asked the driver if he was a Muslim and celebrating Ramadan.

When Sharif answered in the affirmative, Enright yelled Assalamu alaikum, pulled a knife and slashed the driver on the throat, arm, hand and lip.

The police said Enright, who has previously been charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, was drunk.