No hate crime charges for suspect who shot Jewish man on way to temple

The Chicago The police department is facing mounting criticism for not filing hate crime charges against a man accused of attempting to kill a Jewish man after he allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” when he opened fire.

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, was charged with 14 felonies after allegedly shooting the victim multiple times as he walked to a synagogue in the city’s Rogers Park area on Saturday. The neighborhood is home to approximately 20,000 Jews.

“During the shooting, the offender walked up to a 39-year-old man and shot him in the shoulder without saying a word,” Commissioner Larry Snelling said at a news conference Monday.

Abdallahi also fired at officers and paramedics who intervened and was shot several times before being arrested and taken to hospital.

Some witnesses to the shooting say the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is greater.” FIRED his weapon to the victim’s back, according to local media reports. This has left community leaders questioning why police have not laid more serious hate crime charges.

“Saturday’s shooting of a member of the Orthodox community who was going to Shabbat services was a realization of the worst fear that many have, and that is not okay,” David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director for the League of Anti -Defamation, adding that Chicago leaders need. let’s act now to help Jewish residents feel safe.

Other community leaders also expressed dismay that hate crime charges were not filed.

“I am very disappointed by this turn of events and strongly encourage the Cook County Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute the offender to the fullest extent of the law,” Debra L. Silverstein, 50th Precinct Counsel, said in a news release.

“Police have assured me that they are continuing to gather evidence and that further charges – including hate crime charges – may still be added.”

A Chicago police spokesman pointed to comments made Monday by the superintendent when asked about the hate crime allegations. Snelling had said there was insufficient evidence for such a charge.

Abdallahi was charged with six counts of attempted first degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police office and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm.

There were reports that the suspect illegally crossed the US-Mexico border about 18 months ago. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Newsweek that he had no interaction with the suspect, while Chicago PD said it did not comment on such matters.

Saturday’s attack comes amid heightened tensions in the US in the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas continue. Inspector Snelling was asked on Monday about the apparent harassment of a Palestinian business and whether hate crime charges could be laid there.

“We are aware of what is happening in the world at the moment. And we know how that can affect neighborhoods, communities and people of faith,” he said. “It’s not lost on us that there are paraphernalia of hate being passed around.”

Jewish leaders said at a news conference Tuesday that Chicago had become “openly hostile” toward their community and that Saturday’s shooting was part of a broader wave of anti-Semitism they face on a daily basis.

Abdallahi was due in court on Tuesday for a detention hearing.