And im George Howell from cnn World Headquarters in atlanta. Newsroom starts right now. And we begin with the attacks that have shaken two u. S. Communities during the holiday season. In texas, a man opened fire killing two people during a Church Service before he was shot by armed parishioners. We will have the details in just a moment. Also in monsey, new york, the suspect accused of stabbing five people during a hanukkah celebration inside a rabbis home, this happened saturday, that suspect is being held on 5 million bail. Grafton thomas has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and first degree burglary. His Attorney Says he has a long history of Mental Illness and no history of antisemitism. We must warn you the video youre about to see may be disturbing. These are photos from inside the rabbis home right after the attack, and you can see blood on the floor and chairs overturned. And Surveillance Video from a neighbors home appears to show the attacker running toward his car after the stabbings. Heres the thing, though. Despite the attack, the Jewish Community in that area, they continue with the celebrations on sunday on the eve of the final day of hanukkah. More on this story now from cnns alison cossack. Reporter were learning more about the suspect, how 38yearold Grafton Thomas got inside the rabbis home. According to police and witnesses, he walked through the front door. It was unlocked, but that wasnt unusual. The rabbi often left the door unlocked, had an opendoor policy during celebrations like the one that were happening that night. It was the seventh day of hanukkah, almost 100 people were inside the house. A guest at the celebration tells us it was during the moment that the rabbi was lighting the mennor me menorah that thomas allegedly walked in with a long machetetype knife and began his stabbing spree. Five people were stabbed including the rabbis own son. One of the guests is being hailed as a hero. Joseph gluck talked with cnn, telling us that he threw a coffee table at the suspect and wrote down his license plate number before he fled. And thats a good thing because the car was electronically tagged as it drove across the George Washington bridge and into harlem, and thats where Police Caught up with him as you can see in this nypd video. Police apprehending thomas. They say he was covered in blood. Prosecutors at his arraignment would later say that he also smelled of bleach, indicating that he was trying to cover up a crime. Cnn talked with a pastor and longtime friend of thomas, who defended thomas, saying that he isnt a terrorist, and hes not a violent person. In monsey, new york, im alison kosik, back to you. Thank you. New yorks top officials have been weighing in on what happened. The states governor, andrew cuomo, met with some of the victims and was quick to condemn the stabbings. Listen. I consider this an act of domestic terrorism. Lets call it what it is. These people are domestic terrorists, and the law should reflect that, and they should be punished as if it was an act of terrorism. Look, it is a nationwide problem, and i referred to it as an american cancer, and i believe that. New yorks mayor, bill de blasio, tells cnn that the Jewish Community just wants to feel safe. More nypd presence in jewish communities, more security cameras, the physical measures, but also the communitybased measures. Were going to have patrols of Community Folks who go out, working with the nypd, from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Theres a fear that antisemitism is growing in america and becoming more and more violent, and for folks thats very personal. Joining me now on the phone is cedric alexander. He is the former chief of police for Dekalb County in georgia, and he was a member of president Barack Obamas task force on 21st century policing. Hes also author of the book the new guardians policing in americas communities for the 21st century. Thank you so much for being with us. Thank you for having me. So new yorks governor says words are not enough, and its time for action. Hes calling this attack domestic terrorism. Do you agree . Well, certainly i think new york is probably better than anyone in terms of having to de terrorism, and certainly i think the governors his hate crime te was clearly evident of them taking this attack upon the Jewish Community last night very seriously. So i think youre going to see a lot of cooperation there between the state and local and federal Law Enforcement who are going to seek out as much information and intelligence information as they can as to what was the motive behind this attack. And even just as importantly to begin to look at other attacks to the Jewish Community around this country, and particularly around the new York Community over the last week, over the last month, and a number of years because theres clearly an uptick in attacks towards our jewish communities here in this country. But we can also note that other communities of color and those in the gay and lesbian and Transgender Community have also seen an increase in violence. Right. And that is something that is just not going to be tolerated here in the United States. And i do want to read you a statement from the Antidefamation League saying, this is at least the tenth antisemitic incident to hit the new york area in just the last week. When will enough be enough . Its time for leaders everywhere, jewish and nonjewish, to recognize that additional actions to protect the Jewish Community are urgent. The Jewish Community is under assault. All of america must hear our cry. So, cedric alexander, how should Law Enforcement agencies, especially on the local level, respond to this . Well, not just local Law Enforcement, but how do we as a community, as a whole, both Public Safety at our local, state, and federal level have already begun to investigate. Theyre doing things to add patrols to jewish communities in and around new york. But in addition, you have a governor and a State Government there that is certainly going to do everything that they can to keep the Jewish Community and other communities safe. And the Jewish Community is absolutely right. An attack upon their community is an attack upon all of us. And as a nation, we cannot stand for it. So it is incumbent that all of us in this country speak out publicly verbally, publicly, not just at home, but speak out against this type of violence that is currently occurring in our jewish communities across this country. And its something none of us can tolerate and puts all of us at extreme risk. Certainly the governor of new york has made it clear he will not tolerate this. So how much cooperation is there between the hasidic Jewish Community particularly and police, and could a better relationship between the two perhaps help prevent more violence and attacks like this . Well, you know, i dont know the history between the Hasidic Community there and nypd, but i do know this, that i have a number of friends and colleagues within nypd, and they work diligently every day to make sure that they establish and maintain relationships throughout that entire community. So i am pretty confident that the Hasidic Community and nypd are working together collaboratively to make sure that that Community Remains safe. Theres reports that are currently going out today, and we heard them from the governor, is that there are going to be increased patrols in and around certain jewish communities and in certain locations. So it is just not incumbent upon police. Its incumbent upon all of us, the citizens there in new york and across this nation to do what we can to keep those in the Jewish Community and those that are part of other groups that may feel that they are being threatened and have experienced violence. It is just something that none of us can tolerate, and we must stick together, do this, and stand with those in the Jewish Community, who are certainly seeing this type of violence being imposed upon them for the last number of days. It is just absolutely unacceptable for any of us to stand on the sidelines. Cedric alexander, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it. Thank you for having me. The brutal nature of the attack is striking a chord with jewish communities around the world. Our Oren Liebermann has more reaction now on this attack from israel. Reporter news of the attack broke early sunday morning in israel just as the country was starting its workweek and getting ready for the eighth and final night of hanukkah. The chairman of the Jewish Agency says the attack in monsey, new york, turned the festival of lights into dark days. On the holidays when jews are supposed to be able to feel their safest whether theyre celebrating at home or in a synagogue or with a congregation, these are the days when jews are being targeted. We saw it with the attack here in monsey, new york, on the seventh night of hanukkah and we saw it in pittsburgh and san diego, two attacks that happened on the sabbath. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack at his weekly cabinet meeting. Translator israel strongly condemns the latest surge of antisemitism and the brutal attack at the rabbis house in monsey, new york. We send our wishes of recovery to the wounded. Reporter beyond simply offering well wishes, netanyahu pledged israels aid, not only to local authorities in new york but also to any country thats interested in looking for help in fighting antisemitism. Next month, israel will host a conference about antisemitism at israels holocaust museum. The conference will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the auschwitz concentration camp. Heads of state, World Leaders and dignitaries will try to figure out and discuss antisemitism. Part of that answer is education, but it will take more than that. This conference has taken on added significance in light of the attack in monsey and all of the other antisemitic incidents in new york and elsewhere. As the chairman of the Jewish Agency pointed out, antisemitism is a symptom of a bigger problem. He said it begins with the jews, but it never ends with judgment the jews. This isnt a problem only in monsey or new york or america, and it should be treated as a much bigger phenomenon. Oren liebermann, cnn, jerusalem. We turn now to the Deadly Church shooting in texas where police are trying to find the motive behind sundays attack just outside the city of fort worth. As weve been reporting on this story, two people were killed during a sunday service. Authorities say that two parishioners returned fire, killing the gunman. Our Paul Vercammen reports. Reporter streaming video of the Church Service shows a man sitting in the back. He stands up and begins firing with a long gun. According to authorities, two parishioners, also security guards, volunteer guards, returned fire. And within six seconds, the suspect is taken down. According to authorities, the gunman died on the way to the hospital, but so did two of the parishioners. The senior minister from the church said evil invaded our home, and he said two men have left a legacy. We lost two great men today. But it could have been a lot worse, and i am thankful that our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselv ourselves. We have a congregation here of openhearted people. We help people. Were here to help people. And to have Something Like this happen destroys my heart. Reporter those men being praised as heroes by the pastor and by Law Enforcement officials. They say there were 240 members of the congregation or so whose lives were spared. We understand that two people were also injured during the crossfire according to the ambulance company. They had ducked during that fire and hit their heads. They were treated and released. Now, as for that gunman, according to Law Enforcement officials, he was transient but had roots in the area. He had had contact with Law Enforcement before. Arrests contact in multiple different jurisdictions. Reporting from los angeles, im Paul Vercammen. Now back to you. Paul, thank you. The United States has carried out air strikes in iraq and syria, hitting facilities linked to an iranianbacked militia. A spokesman for the group says the strikes killed at least 25 people in iraq. Disturbing footage shows rescue workers trying to recover victims from the scene. The u. S. Says the strikes were in response to recent attacks on iraqi bases, including one that killed an American Contractor on friday. Cnns Jeremy Diamond reports the u. S. Wont rule out more action. Reporter well, the president s Top National Security officials emerged sunday after briefing President Trump at his maralago estate on those u. S. Military strikes carried out against an iranian proxy group. Three strikes were carried out in iraq, two strikes carried out in syria, all against this same iranianbacked militia group. Now, the message that we heard from those top officials, secretary of state mike pompeo, the secretary of defense mark esper, as well as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, mark milley, was to both explain the rationale for taking these strikes and also to warn iran about future actions. I would add that in our discussion today with the president , we discussed with him other options that are available, and i would note also that we will take additional actions as necessary to ensure that we act in our own selfdefense and we defer further bad behavior from militia groups or from iran. Reporter that was the warning issued by secretary of defense mark esper where he makes very clear there that he did brief the president on additional options, making clear that President Trump is keeping the door open to taking additional action against iran or against its proxies in the region should there be further attacks. It does appear that the Tipping Point here that prompted this u. S. Action after weeks of these rocket attacks from various iranian proxies in iraq was indeed this latest attack that took place on friday that claimed the life of one u. S. Defense contractor and left four u. S. Service members injured. Secretary of state mike pompeo making clear that this was a decisive response to that attack and also making clear that the United States will not stand for any iranian actions that threaten or that put u. S. Lives in jeopardy. Jeremy diamond, cnn, traveling with the president in west palm beach, florida. Earlier we heard from cnn military analyst and retired u. S. Air force colonel cedric leighton. And he expects some form of retaliation for the strikes. Listen. Iran has used hezbollah has a front for many years. It goes back basically until 2003, which was the same year that the u. S. Invaded iraq in Operation Iraqi freedom. What this group has done is basically served as a front for the iranians, and it allows iran to maintain a hold on iraqi politics. It also tends to direct the kind of movements that the Iraqi Armed Forces do, how much they support u. S. Efforts, how much they go after groups like isis when isis threatened iraq. So this kind of group does a lot of the bidding of iran, but it also serves irans interests by not only maintaining operational pressure on iraq, but it also serves as irans eyes and ears in iraq. So this type of group is going to actually have a major impact on the way iranian policy is conducted in iraq, and it also will have a major impact on how iran deals with the u. S. The u. S. In essence had, you know, the way that they needed to look at this was, you know, what kind of iranian influences are active in iraq and how they could counter that influence. And once the attack happened near kirkuk, they had no choice but to go after this target. Unfortunately its going to start a vicious cycle, and that vicious cycle will probably include iranian retaliation. And u. S. Forces also involved in another series of air strikes this weekend. On sunday, they worked with somalias government to target al she bob militants. The group was blamed for a car bomb attack in mogadishu that left 79 dead and more than 100 injured. Some of the victims have been airlifted to turkey for treatment. Still ahead on newsroom the fireworks in sydney. The question, will they go on . Why some are calling for them to be canceled. We have a live report from southern australia as bush fires continue there. Everything your trip needs for everyone you love. Expedia. For everyone you love. You have a brother in the second battalion . Theyre walking into a trap. Your orders are to deliver a message calling off tomorrow mornings attack. If you