The man accused of murder and hate crimes after allegedly stabbing a six-year-old Muslim boy to death must be kept behind bars without bail, a judge has ruled.

Joseph Czuba, 71, is accused of killing Wadea Al-Fayoume and seriously wounding his mother in Plainfield, Illinois.

The landlord allegedly targeted the pair, who were his tenants, because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and because they were Muslims.

He is due back in court on 30 October.

Mr Czuba appeared in court on Monday dressed in red jail clothes and with matted white hair. He spoke only briefly to confirm that he would need a court-ordered public defender.

In addition to being held without bail, Mr Czuba was ordered to have no contact with Wadea’s mother, 32-year-old Hanaan Shahin.

According to authorities, Mr Czuba – the pair’s landlord – attacked them both with a large, military-style knife.