Attempted murder charge in coast attack on Afghan

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Mohammed Fawad Mohammadi survived the war in his native Afghanistan, where he served as an interpreter for U.S. military forces.

Now he is in a hospital, with part of his leg amputated after he was attacked by a man in who allegedly drove at Mohammadi again, and again, and again with his car.

Perry George Nicolopoulos was indicted late Thursday on 16 charges, including attempted murder, in connection with the attack in the coastal town of Lincoln City. Mohammadi’s wife and their year-old son narrowly escaped injury.

KGW reports Mohammadi was visiting the coast with his wife and son when they were involved in a minor parking-lot crash.

Police said he and his wife got out to see the damage and exchange insurance info, at which point the other driver put his car in reverse and backed up, hitting Mohammadi, then speeding away.

Police say the crime is shocking, but that they have found no evidence of a bias crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, however, is calling for a more thorough investigation, citing an unprecedented rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents.