INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Authorities with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) released information related to an incident where a woman was arrested for allegedly driving her car into a building with people inside.
Officers are investigating this as a possible hate crime after the woman, identified as 34-year-old Ruba Almaghtheh, purposely drove her car into a building that she knew was a Jewish school and filled with people.
ABC News reported that police said the woman mistakenly thought it was a pro-Jewish organization. Almaghtheh allegedly told an officer that she had been watching the news and "couldn't breathe anymore." She then proceeded to "reference her people back in Palestine."
She said that she was offended by the "Hebrew Israelite" symbol on the outside of the building, so she decided to attack the building. The woman further stated that she had "passed by a couple times and saw the 'Israel school."
She also told police, "Yes, I did it on purpose."
According to the Associated Press (AP), at the time of the crash, one adult as well as four children — ages seven months, one, two and three years — were inside of the school.
Almaghtheh has been arrested for criminal recklessness. IMPD stated that they have informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the arrest and that the FBI are aware and working with the police department.
The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council released a statement on the incident saying they have been working alongside law enforcement on this incident. Their statement said, in part, "Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance and we are more secure and prepared than ever before."
The statement added, "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 same promptly to the appropriate authorities."
The Anti-Defamation League said that the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is an extremist organization that is anti-Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center has also designated the organization a hate group.
After the crash, the woman's car had damage to its rear-end. Captain Chaapash Yahawadah, who is the leader of the school, said that the building's foundation suffered significant damage when it was struck by the woman's car.
He said that the school was hosting a class and school-related functions at the time and that the crash left the people who were inside stunned and traumatized.
He said, "Our statement to the Palestinian community is the black and brown community has nothing to do with what's going on over there, the way in the Middle East between Gaza and Israel."
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told a Senate panel that while Jewish people make up about 2.4 percent of the United States population, they are the targets of nearly 60 percent of all religious-based hate crimes.
Officers are investigating this as a possible hate crime after the woman, identified as 34-year-old Ruba Almaghtheh, purposely drove her car into a building that she knew was a Jewish school and filled with people.
ABC News reported that police said the woman mistakenly thought it was a pro-Jewish organization. Almaghtheh allegedly told an officer that she had been watching the news and "couldn't breathe anymore." She then proceeded to "reference her people back in Palestine."
She said that she was offended by the "Hebrew Israelite" symbol on the outside of the building, so she decided to attack the building. The woman further stated that she had "passed by a couple times and saw the 'Israel school."
She also told police, "Yes, I did it on purpose."
According to the Associated Press (AP), at the time of the crash, one adult as well as four children — ages seven months, one, two and three years — were inside of the school.
Almaghtheh has been arrested for criminal recklessness. IMPD stated that they have informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the arrest and that the FBI are aware and working with the police department.
The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council released a statement on the incident saying they have been working alongside law enforcement on this incident. Their statement said, in part, "Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance and we are more secure and prepared than ever before."
The statement added, "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 same promptly to the appropriate authorities."
The Anti-Defamation League said that the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is an extremist organization that is anti-Israel. The Southern Poverty Law Center has also designated the organization a hate group.
After the crash, the woman's car had damage to its rear-end. Captain Chaapash Yahawadah, who is the leader of the school, said that the building's foundation suffered significant damage when it was struck by the woman's car.
He said that the school was hosting a class and school-related functions at the time and that the crash left the people who were inside stunned and traumatized.
He said, "Our statement to the Palestinian community is the black and brown community has nothing to do with what's going on over there, the way in the Middle East between Gaza and Israel."
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told a Senate panel that while Jewish people make up about 2.4 percent of the United States population, they are the targets of nearly 60 percent of all religious-based hate crimes.
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