Female ‘terrorist’ arrested for driving her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school while children were inside because she was ‘offended by a Hebrew-Israeli symbol’
- Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, crashed her vehicle into a building she thought was a Jewish school and told police she had planned and carried out the attack “on purpose.”
- The building is used by the Israeli School for Universal and Practical Knowledge, which is classified as an anti-Semitic group according to the ADL.
- Almaghtheh was given a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness
A female ‘terrorist’ was arrested for driving her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school, telling police she planned the attack ‘on purpose’ because she was angry about Israel’s war and Hamas.
Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, crashed her vehicle into the Black Hebrew Israelite building with children inside on North Keystone Ave in Indianapolis at 11:30 p.m. Friday.
Almaghtheh told police she believed it was a Jewish school – a Star of David sign could be seen hanging outside the Israelite School for Universal and Practical Knowledge – but it is in fact used by black Hebrew Israelites. The sect has been labeled ‘extreme and anti-Semitic’ by the Anti Defamation League.
Almaghtheh, originally from Jordan, told police she watched the news and “couldn’t breathe” after referring to “her people” in Palestine. Fox59/CBS4 reported.
She told authorities that she had passed the building several times prior to Friday’s attack and referred to it as an “Israeli school,” then admitted to committing the heinous act, telling police: “Yes, I did it on purpose.”
Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, was arrested Friday after driving her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school. She was given a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived on scene outside the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge on Friday at 11:30 p.m., in response to the report of a hate crime
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is classified as an anti-Semitic group
Officials said there were people in the building, but no one was injured. Almaghtheh was given a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness, a report said.
Tuesday marks one month since Hamas invaded Israel in an unprecedented attack on October 7, massacring 1,400 innocent Israeli civilians – infants, children and the elderly – and kidnapping 240 hostages.
More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel retaliated and launched its military offensive nearly a month ago, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave claimed on Monday.
Officers said Almaghtheh reversed her car into the building while several adults and children were inside. Authorities said no one was injured.
She told police the attack was planned because she was offended by the “Hebrew-Israelite” symbol on the front of the building.
There are few details about Almaghtheh, but according to her Facebook, the Palestinian woman has lived in Amman, Jordan.
During a phone call with family members, she admitted to committing the “hate crime.” Police have been in contact with the FBI about the incident, the news agency reported.
Along with the ADL, the Southern Poverty Law Center has also designated Black Hebrew Israelites as a hate group.
Palestinian children are seen fleeing the Israeli bombardment of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, on Monday amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas
Palestinians recovered the body of a child from the rubble of a building in Khan Yunis on Monday, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
On Sunday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis issued a statement to the community informing them that they were aware of the incident that occurred and that Safe Indiana, a Jewish community safety program, had been notified and that this is still the case. working with the police on investigations.
“Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance, and we are safer and better prepared than ever before,” Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis officials wrote in a news release.
While a Jewish facility was not targeted solely due to tongue-in-cheek misidentification, this is yet another reminder to maintain safety protocols, remain vigilant for suspicious activity and to (immediately report) to appropriate authorities.”
Almaghtheh will appear in court for the first time on Wednesday.