The deranged cab driver who tried to mow down Orthodox students outside a Brooklyn Jewish school while screaming “kill all the Jews” has a disturbing history of deranged behavior, police sources and neighbors told The Post.
Ashgar Ali, 58, a Pakistani immigrant busted in the shocking antisemitic attack Wednesday, has been shipped off to hospital psych wards at least three times as an emotionally disturbed person in the past – and has freaked out neighbors with his bizarre behavior.
“He never speaks to anyone,” one neighbor said. “He doesn’t acknowledge you. If you are at the [front] gate he won’t even open it for you. He just stands there.
“I see him go to work every morning about seven or eight,” the neighbor said. “I don’t know what kind of work he does. I believe he rents a room in one of these apartments.”
Ali, who migrated to the US from Pakistan 20 years ago, has a history of disturbing behavior dating to 2007, law enforcement sources told The Post.
On June 7, 2007, he was taken to the hospital for evaluation after an incident on Coney Island Avenue.
No details were immediately available in that incident, but on Aug. 30, 2011, the sources said Ali was taken into custody by cops for acting irrationally and threatening to harm himself. He was again taken to Coney Island Hospital for psychiatric evaluation, sources said.
On Sept. 10, 2011, he was reported to be suffering from an unspecified mental illness after a non-violent incident, according to the sources.
Then, on Jan. 21, 2023, the sources said Ali was taken to Coney Island Hospital after he was spotted walking around in circles on Flatbush Avenue and Kings Highway looking confused.
In the most recent incident, the sources said Ali was picked up behaving erratically and threatening people on Coney Island Avenue on Feb. 11, the sources said.
Police said Ali went off the deep end shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday while behind the wheel of a white 2011 Crown Victoria in Flatbush and took aim at students and rabbis outside the Orthodox school – with the horrifying assault caught on surveillance footage.
The video shows Ali revving the engine and mounting the curb outside the yeshiva and steering toward a group of students – then drove around the block and came back.
“I’m gonna kill all the Jews,” he allegedly yelled as the students and rabbis ran into the building.
Police said the intended targets were three 18-year-old students and two adults, aged 41 and 44.
The car fled the scene but was tracked down by members of the Shomrim Safety Patrol, who tipped off the NYPD and stood by as Ali was arrested and charged with attempted assault as a hate crime, attempted vehicular assault, menacing and other charges.
He was taken to Coney Island Hospital and was awaiting arraignment on Thursday.
