Man hurls anti-Israel slurs at North Miami Beach self-defense students

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida Krav Maga studio owner is expressing concern after a violent intruder broke into his business and yelled slurs at his students.

Moti Horenstein has been teaching self-defense in North Miami Beach for more than twenty years.

He teaches a specific Israeli style of self-defense.

Thursday night, Horenstein almost had to put his training into action.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Allahu Akbar,’” said Horenstein. “I’m from Israel, when we hear that, it means either I’m blowing you up right now or I’m going to stab you.”

Police identified the man as James Desir.

Surveillance video showed a crowd of people of all ages, some very shaken up after the incident.

“We asked him to leave and he didn’t want to leave,” said Horenstein.

North Miami Beach police have confirmed that the man went into two establishments and shouted at two separate places in North Miami Beach on Thursday night.

Police officers said they are working on a flyer to alert the community.

They said Desir has been in trouble with the law in the past and if he comes back to Horenstein’s place, he’ll get a one-way ticket to jail.