Driver charged after Jewish students nearly run down in Brooklyn

A 58-year-old Brooklyn man, Asghar Ali, was arrested on charges of attempted murder and attempted assault as a hate crime after allegedly driving his car onto a sidewalk in front of a Jewish school and attempting to hit people while shouting antisemitic slurs, - NBC New York news reports.

Ali faces additional charges including menacing, endangerment, aggravated harassment, vehicular assault, and reckless driving related to the incident that occurred on Glenwood Road in Flatlands on Wednesday.

The disturbing incident, partially captured on security cameras, took place around lunchtime. The footage shows two students in Jewish attire running across a lawn, scattering as they try to escape from something off-screen. A white vehicle then appears, driving over lawns and seemingly pursuing the individuals.

Police stated that the suspect yelled antisemitic slurs before mounting the curb. He was apprehended nearby minutes after the incident and now faces over a dozen charges, nine of which pertain to one individual on the sidewalk, with the rest related to the alleged harassment of students outside the yeshiva.

No physical injuries were reported.

The hate crime designation increases the severity of penalties upon conviction. Information regarding Ali's attorney was not immediately available on Thursday.

The NYPD Chief of Detectives noted last week that antisemitic crimes in the city have risen by 55% this year compared to the same period last year.