Chicago suspect faces terrorism and hate crime charges after shooting near synagogue. Here’s what we know

CNN
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Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi faces a new crime charges of terrorism and hate crimes following a shooting near a synagogue in Chicago, in a disturbing incident that underscores the alarming rise in anti-Semitism and hate crimes in the US.

The shooting comes amid growing fears for the safety of Jewish communities, with Abdallahi shooting a Jewish man walking to a synagogue before opening fire on responding officers over the weekend.

Abdallahi remains hospitalized after a shootout with police, leaving authorities unable to question him, instead using digital evidence to build their case, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said Thursday at a conference call of the press.

Here’s what we know:

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx emphasized the rarity of terrorism charges, noting that the charges against Abdallahi reflect the seriousness of the crime.

“This indictment sends a clear message: Any act that seeks to destabilize our communities through fear and hatred will face the fullest measure of accountability under the law,” Foxx said. “The efforts to engage in this crime were not spur of the moment, they were not just to cause trouble at the time, but to cause terror.”

Abdallahi is also charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated battery involving a firearm, according to the release. His next court date is set for November 7.

Superintendent Snelling stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to ensure the new allegations are justified, saying the decision to pursue these allegations was not influenced by public pressure or media scrutiny.

Detectives pored over digital evidence, including evidence from Abdallahi’s phone, that suggested he was targeting people of the Jewish faith, Snelling said, without providing further details.

Investigators have found no indication that Abdallahi was part of a larger group, assuring the public that authorities do not want residents to fear a potential network of individuals involved in such acts.

“There has to be enough evidence to support hate crimes and terrorism charges and it was important that we take the time to investigate thoroughly and confirm that this was indeed a crime of this nature,” Snelling said.

“We will never go public, make statements, charge, accuse, or attempt to bring charges without any evidence of what we are trying to accuse someone of.”

Investigation findings and official responses

Abdallahi, 22, is accused of opening fire on a 39-year-old Jewish man early Saturday morning on Chicago’s North Side before shooting “at officers and paramedics who responded multiple times from various locations “, according to the police.

In response, officers responded, striking the suspect and preventing further injuries, as detailed in a Chicago police statement Monday. No police or fire personnel were injured, although Abdallahi remains in hospital.

Abdallahi, a citizen of Mauritania in West Africa, previously met with the U.S. Border Patrol in San Ysidro, California on March 31, 2023, according to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released Thursday.

After Abdallahi’s arrest, ICE “filed an immigration detainer at the Cook County Jail on Tuesday,” agency spokeswoman Erin Bultje said. ICE did not release additional details about Abdallahi’s immigration status.

Increase in anti-Semitism and hate crimes

In October, the Anti-Defamation League reported that anti-Semitic incidents in the US reached a record high in the year following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

The latest data, which runs from that day to September 24, shows almost three times as many incidents as the previous year, with more than 10,000 anti-Semitic episodes recorded. The majority – 8,015 – were classified as verbal or written harassment, while the rest included acts of vandalism and physical assault.

In September, the FBI released last year’s hate crime statistics, indicating that the US had 11,862 hate crime incidents involving 13,829 crimes, of which 22.5% were motivated by religion.

A bipartisan group of senators has PUT Anti-Semitism Act to strengthen federal anti-Semitism efforts. Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, the bill would allow the president to appoint a federal coordinator to manage domestic initiatives, among other things.

The victim was hospitalized following the shooting but has since been released, said Debra Silverstein, the councilwoman who represents Chicago’s 50th Ward, where the shooting occurred.

“Fortunately, this victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries. We know this is something he’s going to have to deal with for the rest of his days,” Snelling said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the attack, saying hate has no place in Chicago, describing anti-Semitism as “hideous” and “evil.”

“This is not just an attack on our beloved Jewish community, this was an attack on us as a city,” Johnson said. “Anti-Semitism in Chicago does not reflect the soul of the city. And everyone in our city deserves to feel safe, and no one in our city should be attacked based on their beliefs, their religion, their identity.”

The Midwest branch of the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement shared on social media Thursday that the “charges appropriately reflect” the seriousness of the shooting.

“We must all turn our attention to supporting the victim and the Jewish community of West Rogers Park as they recover from this heinous act,” the statement said.

CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.