The psychopathic cab driver who tried to mow down Orthodox Jewish students outside a Brooklyn Jewish school while yelling “Kill all the Jews” has a history of disturbing psychopathic behavior, law enforcement officials and local residents told The Washington Post.
Ashgar Ali, 58, a Pakistani immigrant who was arrested in Wednesday’s shocking anti-Semitic attack, has been sent to hospital psychiatric wards at least three times in the past as an emotionally unstable person. – He surprised his neighbours with his strange behaviour.
“He doesn’t talk to anybody,” one neighbor said. “He doesn’t notice you. [front] He doesn’t even open the gate, he just stands there.
“I see him leaving for work every morning around 7 or 8 o’clock,” the neighbor said. “I don’t know what kind of work he does. I think he rents a room somewhere in this apartment complex.”
Law enforcement sources told The Washington Post that Ali, who emigrated to the United States from Pakistan 20 years ago, had been exhibiting disturbing behavior since 2007.
On June 7, 2007, he was taken to the hospital for examination after the incident on Coney Island Avenue.
Details of the incident were not immediately available, but sources said Ali was detained by police on Aug. 30, 2011, after he was acting irrationally and threatening to harm himself. Ali was again taken to Coney Island Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, sources said.
He was reported to be suffering from an unexplained mental illness following a non-violent incident on Sept. 10, 2011, according to sources.
Then, on Jan. 21, 2023, Ali was seen walking around in circles and appearing confused on Flatbush Avenue and Kings Highway, and was taken to Coney Island Hospital, officials said.
In the most recent incident, Ali was arrested on Feb. 11 on Coney Island Boulevard where he was behaving erratically and threatening people, officials said.
Police said Ali became erratic while driving a white 2011 Crown Victoria in Flatbush just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and targeted students and a rabbi outside the Orthodox school, in a horrific attack that was captured on surveillance video.
The video shows Ali revving the engine, pulling onto the curb outside the yeshiva and driving toward a group of students, before driving around the block and back.
As students and rabbis ran into the building, he reportedly shouted, “I’m going to kill all the Jews.”
Police said the targets were three 18-year-old students and two adults, ages 41 and 44.
The vehicle fled the scene but was pursued by Shomrim Safety Patrol officers who contacted the NYPD, who remained at the scene until Ali was arrested and charged with attempted assault as a hate crime, attempted assault with a vehicle, and criminal intimidation.
He was taken to Coney Island Hospital where he awaits arraignment Thursday.
