Arrest made in North Side antisemitic incidents case
Mario Ashkar arrested on charges of ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, theft and disorderly conduct.
Pittsburgh police arrested Mario Ashkar, 36, for damage to an Israeli flag in a North Side family’s yard.
The incident was one of many the family has endured over the last several weeks, including graffiti painted on a sidewalk outside of their home which read “For Blood and Soil,” a Nazi slogan.
Ashkar was caught on the family’s security cameras, installed after the first antisemitic incident on their property. He is being charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, theft and disorderly conduct, according to Shawn Brokos, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh community security director.
Over the last several weeks, the family has had their Israeli flag removed from their yard and trampled, pro-Palestinian propaganda pasted on their front door and pro-Palestinian literature with pictures of dead children and the note “The child murders of Gaza” scribbled on it with a Sharpie shoved into their mail slot.
The FBI began investigating the incidents, along with the Pittsburgh Police, as they became more threatening.
The homeowner, who asked that their name not be used out of security concerns, said that they were “pleased with the diligent work by our city police department in catching this individual and grateful to our community members who offered the tips to make his arrest possible.”
They noted that law enforcement is still seeking the suspect or suspects who committed the other acts, “the graffiti on the sidewalk and flag as well as the propaganda on our door and in our mailbox.”
Brokos noted that the arrest was a result of an effort that included law enforcement, community members and community leaders.
Anyone with information about the antisemitic acts is urged to contact the Pittsburgh Police and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Security office at jewishpgh.org/form/incident-report. PJC
–David Rullo
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