Asghar Ali : “Pakistani Man’s Antisemitic Attack on Rabbi”

Antisemitic Attack in Brooklyn

A New York taxi driver carried out a shocking antisemitic attack on Wednesday, attempting to run over a rabbi and Orthodox students with his car outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn. Eyewitnesses reported that he began the attack shouting threats, including, “I’m gonna kill all the Jews”.

The perpetrator was later identified as Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant who works as a taxi driver in New York City. Ali, who has been residing in the US for over two decades, 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) license, even though he works as a cab driver. He has been arrested four times previously.

Investigation and Charges

The New York Police Department’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the incident. Asghar Ali faces charges of attempted murder, attempted assault, along with hate crime charges.

Officials told the New York Post that they do not believe the attack was terror-related. There is no evidence linking him to any online radical group.

The incident occurred near Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School when Ali targeted Jewish students dressed in Orthodox attire. He aimed his car at the rabbi and two students, circling the block before charging towards the school while hurling antisemitic insults.

Fortunately, the victims managed to seek shelter inside the building just in time to avoid being hit. Among them were three 18-year-olds, a 41-year-old man, and a 44-year-old man, all escaping unharmed.

Rabbi Twersky, who works at the Yeshiva, described the chaotic scene as the assailant targeted one of the boys at the corner of Glenwood Road and East 55 Street. The driver then went after another group of 30 to 40 students, 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.

Members of the Shomrim Safety Patrol located the man and alerted the authorities.

“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, stated.