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Rising Anti-semitism In U.S: Arab Muslim Woman Arrested For Ploughing Car Into Building She Thought Was A Jewish School

Swarajya StaffNov 07, 2023, 01:43 PM | Updated 01:46 PM IST
Ruba Almaghtheh

Ruba Almaghtheh


In yet another case of anti-semitism that has engulfed the U.S in recent weeks following the Hamas terror attack on Israel, an Arab-American woman was arrested in Indianapolis on Friday (Nov 3) after she ploughed her car into a building she thought was a Jewish school.

Ruba Almaghtheh purposefully drove her Chevy Impala into a building with a sign containing the Star of David on the front door, according to reports in multiple media outlets. 

The Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge operates out of the building. Several adults and children were inside the building when Almaghtheh deliberately rammed her vehicle into it. 

Almaghtheh was later arrested on charges of criminal recklessness. The police have labelled her a 'terrorist.'

During the police investigation, Almaghtheh claimed she was 'traumatised' watching news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and "couldn't breathe anymore," which led her to plan an attack on the building.

According to the police, Almaghtheh said she passed the building a couple of times and saw the "Israel school", and admitted that she collided into the building purposefully.

Almaghtheh's vehicle suffered rear-end damage, and she admitted to crashing her vehicle on purpose into the building while speaking with her sister during her courtesy phone call after her arrest, according to the affidavit.  

On Oct 16, the FBI released statistics on hate crimes in the U.S., showing a rise of 25% in Antisemitic incidents between 2021 and 2022.

Incidentally, the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is one of many Hebrew Israelite sects regarded as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League because of their tactics and rhetoric, which includes claiming that Black people are the only "true" Jews.

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