Image by Getty Images

(JTA) — Los Angeles police arrested a man who allegedly attempted to run over two people outside of a synagogue.

The incident occurred on Friday night. Police are investigating it as a possible hate crime, the NBC Los Angeles affiliate reported.

A security camera video shows the driver trying to run down the two visibly Jewish men leaving the Bais Yehuda Shul, and then reversing and trying to hit him again, CBS LA reported. He also reportedly shouted anti-Semitic epithets at them. He was stopped when his car ran a stop sign and slammed into another vehicle.

Antisemitism Notebook

Your weekly guide through the news and the noise of how rising antisemitism and disputes over how to address it are shaping American Jewish life.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“Why he chose us? Probably because of the yarmulkes on our heads,” one of the victims told CBS.

The alleged attacker has been identified as Mohamed, 32. He was held on $55,000 bail and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with a vehicle.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount