Police Say ‘Terrorist’ Drove Car Into What She Thought Was Jewish School, but Made Ironic Mistake
There’s been a disturbing rise in antisemitism since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war.
We’ve seen the evidence of it from the radical rallies chanting “From the river to the sea” to the ripping down of signs for kidnapped Jewish victims of Hamas. We’ve covered multiple examples here at RedState just over the past couple of days. There were the anti-Israel marchers who stormed the front of a Jewish store, and police had to get in between them and the signs of the kidnapped Israelis they wanted to rip down that were on a pole in front of the store. There was also the Jewish guy who went undercover at one of the anti-Israel rallies in New York City and discovered a lot of the hate against Jews when he interviewed attendees.
But a woman in Indianapolis allegedly managed to put a new spin on an old hate.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) says that Ruba Almaghtheh confessed to purposely backing her car into the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge while there were people inside the building. The IMPD termed her a “terrorist.” There were no reports of any injuries.
Police said she told them that she was offended by the Hebrew Israelite symbol on the building and planned to attack it after watching coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. She thought it was an “Israel school.”
IMPD said she referred to “her people back in Palestine” and told officers, “Yes. I did it on purpose.”
However, the Anti-Defamation League defines the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge as an “extreme and antisemitic” sect of the Black Hebrew Israelites.
Whoops, I guess she’s not exactly the sharpest “terrorist.” That’s some delicious irony right there.
Not only that, but Almaghtheh also allegedly admitted to committing a “hate crime” on her one phone call to her family. Again, not exactly a smart move. But then, when you’re motivated by hate to attack other people, you’re already working with a deficit on many levels.
A local Jewish group noted the irony but also the continuing danger that people face when there are attitudes like this out there.
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis officials wrote in a press release. “Although a Jewish facility was not targeted, solely due to ironic misidentification, this is yet another reminder to maintain security protocols, remain vigilant of suspicious activity and to (report promptly) to the appropriate authorities.”
Almaghtheh is facing a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness.
I’m willing to bet there will likely be other charges coming as they evaluate the facts further in the case.
