An Indianapolis woman, Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, appeared in court on Wednesday after being accused of backing her car into a building that she believed housed an "Israeli school." Almaghtheh has been charged with intimidation, criminal recklessness, and institutional criminal mischief, all felonies. The incident took place on Saturday, with two adults and three children inside the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge at the time. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Almaghtheh claims to have watched news coverage of the war in the Middle East and decided to plan an attack by crashing into the building because she observed a symbol that she found offensive and associated with being an Israeli school. The front of the building features a “Hebrew Israelite” symbol that resembles a Star of David with lettering. The Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge is listed as a "Radical Hebrew Israelite" group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and has been deemed a hate group due to its increasingly antisemitic, anti-white, anti-LGBTQ, xenophobic, and misogynistic ideology.

Almaghtheh's attorney, Gary Colasessano, stated that his client does not remember driving into the building and believes she may have experienced an “episode” due to the combination of medications she takes for physical disabilities and the mental stress of a pending divorce while caring for her three children. Colasessano described Almaghtheh as a Muslim U.S. citizen originally from Jordan with no previous criminal record.

During her initial court hearing, a Marion County judge entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Almaghtheh and set her bond at an unusually high amount of $200,000. The prosecution argued for the high bond, stating that Almaghtheh intentionally crashed into the building due to her belief that it was a religious or cultural center supporting Israel. The judge also ordered Almaghtheh to stay away from synagogues, temples, and other Jewish religious and cultural centers in Marion County.

The leader of the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge, Captain Chaapash Yahawadah, challenged the Southern Poverty Law Center's designation and revealed that the school is part of an international organization with branches in the United Kingdom. Yahawadah expressed that the school had no connection to the war in the Middle East and emphasized that the Black and brown community in Indianapolis has nothing to do with the conflict.

Witnesses at the scene reported that Almaghtheh shouted “Free Palestine” after crashing into the building. A man who had been sitting in a car outside the school stated that he saw Almaghtheh put her car in reverse and intentionally back into the building. He approached her, and she began ranting about Palestine and accused him of supporting the oppression of her people. Another man who came out of the building after hearing the crash also reported similar comments from Almaghtheh.

The Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge sustained approximately $10,000 in damages due to the incident. The Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council released a statement acknowledging the incident and reminding the community to maintain security protocols and report suspicious activity promptly.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears condemned the actions, stating that hate would not be tolerated in the community. Almaghtheh's bail review hearing is scheduled for November 17.