A Mesa man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill two people, and yelling derogatory comments about Palestinians, Sunnis and Jewish people.
Court documents reveal that 27-year-old Karar Hussein Aljanabi walked into a business near Dobson and Main Street in Mesa while screaming derogatory comments and threatening to kill the business owner.
Police said that on Dec. 26 the victim's wife and 13-year-old daughter watched as the business owner tried to remove Aljanabi from the business. Aljanabi then took a switchblade from his sock and tried several times to stab the victim.
Aljanabi escaped by running to the light rail station and getting on the train, documents said.
Police said that two days later Aljanabi was involved in a similar incident at a business near Mesa Drive and Main Street. After leaving the business, Aljanabi kicked the business owner's car, breaking the mirror. Two customers confronted Aljanabi, who pulled a knife on them and tried to stab them, poice said.
Officials said Aljanabi tried to escape again by getting on the light rail, but two customers followed him while calling police. Aljanabi was arrested at the next stop.
In an interview with Mesa Police, Aljanabi told them he believes, "Allah will bless him for violent acts against these people." He also became violent during the police interview, flipping over chairs and making threats against the officer.
Aljanabi is being held on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal damage and threatening.
