Security footage from inside the Omar Mosque in Paterson, New Jersey, shows the moment Serif Zorba stood up amid pre-dawn prayers, stepping over rows of praying men to get to the imam

Shocking security footage has shown the moment an imam was stabbed in the back as he led morning prayers at a mosque.

The footage from Omar Mosque in Paterson, New Jersey, shows a man getting to his feet as other worshippers drop down to their knees in prayer during the service, which took place on April 9.

Footage appears to show him pulling a knife as he steps over two rows of praying men, making his way toward the imam before plunging the weapon into the unsuspecting imam's back.

65-year-old Sayed Elnakib can be seen collapsing to the ground, before quickly getting to his feet in apparent shock.

Worshippers are seen breaking pre-dawn prayers to grab the assailant as he tries to flee through the middle of the group.

The mosque’s spokesperson Abdul Hamdan said: "The suspect has been apprehended because of the heroic actions of Omar Mosque’s congregants. They apprehended the individual swiftly and immediately."

A later piece of footage shows how they managed to subdue the suspect, named as Serif Zorba, before police arrived at the scene where they arrested the 32-year-old.

Medics confirmed the following day, April 10, that the married dad of three imam was in a stable condition in hospital, having received two stab wounds to his lungs.

Local authorities have said the suspect was not a regular atendee of the mosque, but had previously gone on at least one occasion.

At another mosque he had recently started attending, fellow worshippers had noticed the suspect behaving unusually.

On April 7 at Mevlana Mosque, also in Paterson, he was spotted allgedly knelt in prayer, with his head touching the ground, for an hour and a half.

He reportedly went up to the imam afterwards, chastising him over his garb.

"Why are you wearing a tie?" he reportedly asked. "In our religion, you should not wear a tie."

The motive for the stabbing remains unclear at the time of reporting.

Paterson mayor Andre Sayegh has visited Sayed in hospital, confirming Omar Mosque will receive "extra police attention".

Zorba is believed to be of Turkish origin, and appeared before a judge on April 10 pleading not guilty to attempted murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. He remains in custody with a next court hearing scheduled for April 13.

Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement: "Passaic County Prosecutor CAmelia M. Valdes announces that at approximately 5.37am on April 9, 2023, memebrs of the Paterson Police Department and New Jersey State Police responded to the Omar Mosque located at 501 Getty Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey, on a report of a stabbing.

"Upon arrival, police officers encountered a 32-year-old suspect inside of the mosque who was subdued by congregants.

"Officers located a 65-year-old male suffering from non-fatal stab wounds. The victim was transported to Saint Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson for treatment.

"Based on the investigation, Serif Zorba was identified as the assailant who stabbed the victim as was subsequently arrested.

"Mr Zorba is charged with attempted murder, first degree' possession of a weapon, fourth degree.

"The sentencing exposure for Serif Zorba on first degree attempted murder is 10 - 20 years [in] New Jersey State Prison with 85 per cent of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and five years of parole supervision upon release; on possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose it is three to five years New Jersey State Prison; and on unlawul possession of a weapon it is up to 18 months New Jersey State Prison."