A New York taxi driver, in an antisemitic attack, attempted to run over a rabbi and Orthodox students with his car outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported that he began the attack shouting threats, including, “I’m gonna kill all the Jews”.
Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant, was arrested in Canarsie, Brooklyn, for attempting to ram Jewish students outside a yeshiva. Ali, driving a white sedan. The attack was thwarted as the targets managed to scatter in time.He was screaming, "I am going to kill all… pic.twitter.com/Ns3C60nFw0
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) May 30, 2024
He was later identified as Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant, who drives a taxi for a living in New York City. Ali has been residing in the US for over two decades, and was described by law enforcement sources as “emotionally disturbed”, according to the New York Post.
In 1998, he faced arrest for impersonation when he presented false identification after being stopped. He also lacks a valid TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) licence, even though he works as a cab driver. He was arrested four times previously.
Wednesday’s incident is being probed by the New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force. He faces charges of attempted murder, attempted assault along with hate crime charges.
Officials told the New York Post that they believe that the attack was not terror-related. They have not found evidence that indicated he was tied to any online radical group.
The incident happened near Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School when Ali started driving at Jewish students dressed in Orthodox garb. He targeted the rabbi and two students. He drove round the block and then again charged towards the school hurling antisemitic abuses.
The victims managed to seek refuge inside the building just in time to avoid being struck. Among them were three 18-year-olds, a 41-year-old man, and a 44-year-old man. They emerged unharmed.
Rabbi Twersky, employed at the Yeshiva, recounted the chaotic scene that unfolded when the assailant attempted to target one of the boys standing at the corner of Glenwood Road and East 55 Street. After that the driver launched an attack on another group of 30 to 40 students after driving onto the wrong side of East 56 Street.
“I came in, and the boys were like ‘Did you see the cameras? Did you see the cameras? I’m more scared for them. I’m much more scared than they are — their adrenaline is up,” Rabbi Twersky told the newspaper.
The members of the Shomrim Safety Patrol found the man and called the cops.
“We were able to retrieve the video footage. We got the guy’s plate number. Obviously it was a very distinct car, a Crown Vic, an old model. You don’t see too many of those around. We were told by the people at the school that he hangs around, he drives around the neighbourhood. And one of our members, when he was doing his daily patrol canvassing around the neighbourhood, saw the car,” Bob Moskowitz, executive coordinator of the patrol was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
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