Florida man arrested after ‘trying to drive into LGBTQ+ running group’

A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to hit members of an LGBTQ+ running club with an SUV.

Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, 43, was taken into police custody on Monday (24 November) after witnesses claimed he accelerated toward a group of pedestrians in West Palm Beach.

Officers responded to a 911 call at 8:20pm after a report that a driver had made several attempts to hit members of the club as they ran along Parker Avenue.

El Mahmoud allegedly accelerated towards the group in a Ford Bronco before making a second attempt to hit the runners, driving across the pavement and up an embankment.

It’s alleged he then attempted to flee, driving 1.6 miles eastbound on Okeechobee Boulevard, according to local outlet WLFX, before parking in a garage and removing the vehicle’s license plate. Police apprehended El Mahmoud shortly after he hid.

Investigators told local outlets in a statement that the driver became upset and agitated over a perceived comment made by a member of the running club, which they claimed led to his alleged actions.

The West Palm Beach Police Department charged El Mahmoud with two counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, and one count of reckless driving.

Officers are reportedly considering whether to enhance the case under Florida’s hate crime laws. Investigations remain ongoing.

At least 655 hate crimes have been reported in the US over the past year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Eight of those reports came from Florida, including 2 reports of aggravated assault, an arson report, and a vandalism report.

US hate crimes most commonly occur in a person’s home, with 1,824 residential cases reported over the last decade. Public spaces, including public streets and roads, are the second highest.

At least 431 cases of anti-LGBTQ+ aggravated assault have been reported over the last five years. The most common offence, vandalism, saw 1,132 reported cases.