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Authorities in New York City arrested a man who allegedly tried to run over Jewish people in Brooklyn. The New York City Police Department said that 58-year-old Asghar Ali allegedly jumped the curb outside of Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School and tried to run over two men on the sidewalk.
The men ran for cover as Ali, driving a white Crown Victoria, accelerated toward them while screaming antisemitic statements.
Luckily, nobody was injured and Ali was taken into custody a short while later. He is facing numerous charges, including attempted murder as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime, and first-degree attempted vehicular assault.
“We were very pleased to be able to apprehend this individual,” Bob Moskovitz, executive coordinator of the Shomrim Safety Patrol, told The New York Post. “This is not somebody that we want driving around the streets, especially with this antisemitic, anti-Jewish climate that’s out there. So we were glad to be able to put this to rest. The community was kind of uptight about this. Now everybody can be a little more relaxed.”
Authorities said that Ali is a Pakistani immigrant who works as a cab driver. He has a history of mental illness and four prior arrests dating back to 1998.
Officials said that Ali was taken to Coney Island Hospital for treatment after being arrested.