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Court documents: Man accused of stealing school bus had antisemitic journal

Bader Alzahrani was arrested in Pennsylvania. The 22-year-old man was charged with receipt of a stolen vehicle and transportation of a stolen vehicle.

News 12 Staff

Jan 31, 2023, 3:12 AM

Updated 660 days ago

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A man accused of stealing a school bus in Livingston on Jan. 17 faced a federal judge on Monday.
Bader Alzahrani was arrested in Pennsylvania. The 22-year-old man was charged with receipt of a stolen vehicle and transportation of a stolen vehicle.
Court documents states that a bag with journals of antisemitic messages was found in a house across from the parking lot where the bus was stolen from at the Livingston Senior and Community Center on Hill Side Avenue. The documents also states that a Saudi Arabian passport with Alzahrani's name was also found.
Authorities say that the journals had entries in English and Arabic. They contained such phrases as "God I am ready for your orders. I want to live the rest of my life to serve you and the religion." "Blood, blood, destruction, destruction. Allah." and "Jews control everything."
Alzahrani is in the United States on a student visa. Officials say that he went missing in October from the university he was attending. Officials would not name that university.
The incident was very shocking to members of the community.
“I have a daughter and that's just it freaks you, that something could happen,” says Miles Finney. “He could've tried to pick up kids, that's crazy that they let that happen.”
Alzahrani could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted.