NYC mayor meets with Muslim cabbie who was stabbed, emphasizes importance of public discourse

NYC mayor meets with Muslim cabbie who was stabbed

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has welcomed a Muslim taxi driver who was stabbed to City Hall and says that it’s important for Americans to have “a discourse” on controversial topics.

Bloomberg was asked Thursday whether the attack on Ahmed Sharif could be related to the opposition to the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque about two blocks from ground zero. The mayor replied: “You never know what’s related. I wasn’t in the cab.”

Bloomberg met privately with the driver and his family Thursday. Sharif did not speak to reporters.

A college student has been jailed on charges he attacked Sharif on Tuesday during a cab ride after the driver said he was Muslim.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of slashing a Muslim taxi driver in the throat was carrying journals at the time describing his experiences in Afghanistan.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Michael Enright’s journals did not appear to contain anti-Muslim rants.

The official says an empty bottle of scotch was found in a bag Enright was carrying, along with the journals. The official says the journals described his experiences embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

The 21-year-old Enright is jailed on charges he attacked the cabbie after the driver said he was Muslim.