In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage and concern, a Texas woman has been indicted for the attempted drowning of a three-year-old Palestinian-American girl, in what is being described as a racially motivated attack.
Elizabeth Wolf, 42, was arrested in May following the incident at a swimming pool in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Euless. The young girl's six-year-old brother was also injured during the incident.
As reported by the Daily Mail, a Tarrant County grand jury has now charged Wolf with attempted capital murder of a person under 10 years of age and intentionally causing bodily injury to a child. The indictment, filed on August 15, also included a hate crime enhancement, which could potentially increase the severity of Wolf's sentence if she is found guilty.
The incident unfolded when Wolf, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, approached a Muslim woman wearing a hijab, identified as Mrs H, at the apartment complex pool. According to the police report, Wolf began making racist comments, questioning Mrs H about her family's origins and whether the two children in the pool were hers.
The situation escalated when Wolf attempted to drown the three-year-old girl and tried to grab the six-year-old boy. "Wolf tried to grab (the mother's) six-year-old son but he pulled away from her grasp, which caused a scratch on his finger," Euless police reported. "The mother began helping her son when Wolf grabbed her three-year-old daughter and forced her underwater. The mother was able to pull her daughter from the water. Her daughter had been yelling for help and was coughing up water."
Local medics responded to the scene, and the children were medically cleared. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that a Black man helped rescue the young girl from the attacker as more people gathered and witnessed the incident. The children are now safe but severely traumatized, according to CAIR.
As police were handcuffing Wolf, she allegedly shouted threats at a witness who was with Mrs H, vowing to kill her and her entire family. Mrs H also reported that Wolf had forcibly removed her hijab and assaulted her, preventing her from reaching her daughter as Wolf held the child's head underwater.
In a heartfelt statement, the distressed mother expressed her fear and uncertainty. "We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I dont know where to go to feel safe with my kids. My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here," she said. "My daughter is traumatized; whenever I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides, telling me she is afraid the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again."
The family's plight has garnered widespread support, with a GoFundMe campaign raising nearly $7,000 more than its original $10,000 goal. However, the incident has also raised concerns about the rising threats against American Muslims, Arabs, and Jews, particularly in the wake of Israel's war in Gaza.
This incident is not isolated. Other recent attacks include the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois, the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas, and the shooting of three Palestinian American students in Vermont. These incidents underscore the urgent need for increased vigilance and action against hate crimes, to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their race or religion.
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