The knife-wielding maniac accused of stabbing three officers in a Manhattan courthouse attack pleaded not guilty Thursday – as more than a dozen uniformed cops glared at him.
Jonathan Wohl, 37, was ordered held without bail on two counts of attempted murder in the first degree for the June 16 of knifing three officers inside the lobby of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, the same building where he faced the judge.
Wohl, who allegedly has been antagonizing law enforcement for years, was remanded by Judge Michele Rodney — as several court officers lined the walls of the courtroom in a show of support of the officers injured in the attack.
“Court officers have the incredibly challenging job of keeping everyone in our courthouses safe, including judges, staff, attorneys, victims, witnesses, the public, and those facing criminal charges,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
“We have absolutely no tolerance for any attack on their safety, and the significant charges in this indictment reflect the seriousness with which we are treating this matter.”
Manhattan prosecutors said that Wohl began his attack when he entered through the security conveyor inside the courthouse — before charing an officer at the station and pulling out a folding knife from his bag.
He then allegedly cut the first officer twice in the face before knocking him down.
When another officer jumped in, Wohl then cut the officer’s face and the side of his neck — before stabbing him in the upper back five times, prosecutors said.
Wohl continued to struggle with the officer before he allegedly knifed a third officer in the back of his protective vest — where he was then subdued and arrested, according to prosecutors.
A sergeant who responded to the scene suffered broken ribs, and another sustained bruising, according to court documents.
Prosecutors have said that Wohl used a curved knife to slash the officers — adding the attack could have been fatal if the weapon had been a straight-edge blade.
Wohl is due back in court on Oct. 9.
