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

CNN
—

Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi faces new criminal charges terrorism and hate crime charges following a shooting outside a synagogue in Chicago in a disturbing incident that highlights the alarming rise in anti-Semitism and hate crimes in the US.

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

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

Here’s what we know:

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

“This indictment sends a clear message: Any actions intended to destabilize our communities through fear and hatred will be met with the fullest accountability of the law,” Fox said. “The attempts to commit this crime were not spontaneous, they were aimed not simply at disturbing the times, but at spreading terror.”

Abdallahi is also charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of aggravated battery with 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 validity of the new charges, saying the decision to bring the charges was not influenced by public pressure or media scrutiny.

Detectives reviewed digital evidence, including data from Abdallahi’s phone, that suggested he was targeting people of the Jewish faith, Snelling said, without elaborating.

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

“There needs to be sufficient evidence to support allegations of hate crimes and terrorism, and it was important that we took the time to thoroughly investigate and confirm that this was indeed a crime of this nature,” Snelling said.

“We will never speak publicly, make statements, accusations, accusations, or attempt to make accusations without some evidence of what we are trying to accuse someone of.”

Investigation results and official responses

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

Officers responded by returning fire, striking the suspect and preventing further injury, Chicago police detailed in a news release Monday. No police officers or firefighters were injured, although Abdallahi remains in hospital.

Abdallahi, a Mauritanian citizen in West Africa, had a previous encounter with 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.

Following Abdallahi’s arrest on Tuesday, ICE “placed the detained immigrant in the Cook County Jail,” agency spokeswoman Erin Boultje said. ICE has not released additional information 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 record levels in the year following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The latest figures, covering the period from now until 24 September, show almost three times as many incidents as the previous year, with more than 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents recorded. The majority – 8,015 – were classified as verbal or written harassment, while the rest included vandalism and physical violence.

In September, the FBI released hate crime statistics for last year, which showed that there were 11,862 reported hate crimes in the United States, including 13,829 offenses, of which 22.5% were religiously motivated.

Bipartisan Group of Senators presented Anti-Semitism Act, designed to strengthen federal efforts to combat anti-Semitism. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, would allow the president to appoint a federal coordinator to manage domestic initiatives, among other things.

The victim was hospitalized after the shooting but was later released, said Debra Silverstein, the alderman who represents Chicago’s 50th Ward, where the shooting occurred.

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

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

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

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

“We must all look to support the victim and the West Rogers Park Jewish community as they recover from this heinous act,” the statement said.

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