On Wednesday, May 29, a disturbing incident occurred outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn. A man attempted to run over a rabbi and Orthodox students with his car. Witnesses reported that he shouted, ‘I’m going to kill all the Jews.’ The NYPD is investigating this antisemitic attack.
Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant livery cab driver, was arrested after attempting to mow down a group of students and rabbis outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn. Witnesses reported that he yelled antisemitic slurs from his car, including the phrase ‘I’m going to kill all the Jews.’
Fortunately, no one was injured in the attack. Asghar Ali faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, attempted assault, and hate crimes. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident.
Ali is currently charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, and hate crimes. However, investigators do not believe the attack is terror-related. So far, there is no evidence linking him to any online radical group.
During the incident, the man from Brooklyn was behind the wheel of a 2011 white Crown Victoria, executing a turn onto East 55th Street. In a startling twist of events, he veered toward students who were dressed in Orthodox attire near the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School.
After circling the block, Ali deliberately aimed his vehicle at two additional students and a rabbi near the school. He shouted, ‘I’m going to kill all the Jews,’ as reported by law enforcement.
Despite the danger, the victims managed to seek safety inside the building just before they could be hit. Among them were three 18-year-olds, a 41-year-old man, and a 44-year-old man, none of whom were injured.
According to Rabbi Twersky, who is employed at the Yeshiva, the disturbance began when the driver attempted to strike one of the boys standing at the intersection of Glenwood Road and East 55 Street. Subsequently, the driver veered onto the wrong side of East 56 Street and targeted a group of 30 to 40 students.
“I came in, and the boys were like ‘Did you see the cameras? Did you see the cameras?’” Twersky said. “I’m more scared for them. I’m much more scared than they are — their adrenaline is up.”
Ali attempted to escape initially, but the Shomrim Safety Patrol quickly located him. Subsequently, the NYPD was notified by the Shomrim. According to Bob Moskowitz, the executive coordinator of the patrol, they managed to obtain video footage and the license plate number of the suspect. The car involved was notably unique—an old model Crown Victoria, which is not commonly seen.
“We were told by the people at the school that he hangs around, he drives around the neighborhood,” he said. “And one of our members, when he was doing his daily patrol canvassing around the neighborhood, saw the car.”
Ali has been apprehended and subsequently transported to Coney Island Hospital.
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