Death Threats in Halal Turf War Lead to Three Arrests

Who the halal are you looking at? (tobyleah's Flickr)

It's rough out there for a street vendor. Three men were arrested recently after allegedly threatening to kill a rival halal food vendor if he didn't find a new corner to work. Yacine Aouimer, 36, and two accomplices are accused of attacking Mohamed Ismail, 34, at knifepoint in Crotona Park in March, holding the knife to his throat and yelling, "If I see you again, I will kill you!" Police sources tell the Post they also stole $422 from Ismail's apron pocket, then slashed a tire on his food cart for good measure.

Ismail says his troubles started after Aouimer and his cohorts set up their halal cart across the street from him in the park. Now he's afraid for his life and his livelihood. "I've been going to the same corner for four years," he tells the Post. "Everybody knows me. Everybody likes me. It was the first time [Aouimer] appeared across the street. I'm scared. I haven't been able to sleep. I haven't been able to work that much anymore. [Aouimer] even threatened me in the precinct." Which is pretty gangsta.

Well, we can't say we're surprised; this is hardly the first time all halal has broken loose among rival vendors. Last year a halal chicken vendor allegedly cut his rival's arm in a turf war, and the ruthless Halal Food Cart "Mafia" will make you sleep with the shellfish if you cross them.

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By John Del Signore in Food on May 13, 2010 1:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Cannibal

Halal food is made from halal food vendors who cross the line.

jpeditor

Keep buying hala food; Hamas needs the donations.

Huffy6241

A guy that was selling coffee in a cart near my office started selling lunch too (along with the cart that was already there most days for lunch). A few days later - 2 coffee carts popped up near his spot. I asked him what was up with that, and he said that a lunch vendor was pissed he was selling lunch, so had a couple of family members "send him a message". He stopped selling lunch.

snickerdoodle

Peaceful muslims at it again.

"Everybody draw Mohammed" Day is May 20.

inoyourider

Nice!

used_up_shoe

Allah knows that non-muslim new yorkers never get in to fights about stupid crap.

Manitoba

After holding a knife to his throat, stealing his money, and slashing his tires, they drove to his house, urinated on his lawn, put rotten eggs in his mailbox, threw toilet paper into his trees and bushes, and stole his garden gnomes.