Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, a 22-year-old man from Chicago, has been charged with 14 felonies for allegedly shooting a 39-year-old Jewish man who was on his way to a synagogue in the city’s Rogers Park district on the Jewish sabbath. The victim was treated in a local hospital and discharged the same day. The suspect also opened fire on first responders before being apprehended by police. Ald. Debra Silverstein expressed fear and disappointment that hate crime charges had not been filed despite evidence suggesting an antisemitic motive for the shooting. Rabbi Shlomo Soroka emphasized that whether or not there is a hate crime charge, the reality of the Jewish community’s experience remains the same.
The FBI is aware of the shooting and working with local, state, and federal law enforcement to provide resources and assistance to the community. Attacks on Jews in the US have tripled after attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, according to the ADL Center on Extremism. Attacks on Muslims and Arabs have also increased. Sunday marked six years since the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in US history when a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people. Superintendent Larry Snelling acknowledged the potential for rising tensions in neighborhoods and communities due to hate paraphernalia being passed around. He emphasized the importance of ensuring residents feel safe while walking in their neighborhoods.
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