Metro

Falafel battle ambush

The falafel is flying in The Bronx.

A turf war between two halal vendors escalated into a terrifying assault and robbery when a food seller hunted down his competitor and ambushed him as he tried to return his cart for the day, authorities said yesterday.

Yacine Aouimer, 36, and two accomplices were recently arrested for the March attack on Mohamed Ismail, 34, at knifepoint in Crotona Park, authorities said.

“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,” Ismail told The Post.

“I’ve been going to the same corner for four years. Everybody knows me. Everybody likes me. It was the first time [Aouimer] appeared across the street.”

The violence erupted on March 11, after Aouimer and his two cohorts, Lotfi Mouchrik, 35, and Benabdella Rachid, 41, set up shop on East 163rd Street.

After Ismail shut down for the night, a friend started driving him to a garage to return the cart, while the trio of thugs followed in a white van, the sources said.

When his pursuers reached Claremont Parkway and Crotona Avenue, they cut in front of Ismail’s Mercury 4×4, forcing it to stop, according to the sources.

Mouchrik and Rachid allegedly jumped out and flanked the Mercury, while Aouimer stayed behind the wheel of the van.

Mouchrik allegedly put a knife to Ismail’s neck and swiped $422 from his apron pocket, then slashed a tire on his food cart, which was being towed by the Mercury.

Then came the death threat.

“If I see you again, I will kill you!” Mouchrik allegedly said.

The accomplices then dashed back into the van, and Aouimer sped off, sources said.

Ismail has returned to work only sporadically, but at a different location.

Mouchrik and Rachid were busted on April 3 and charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal mischief, and released on $1,000 bail.

Last Saturday, Aouimer was arrested on the same charges and released on $750 bail.

jamie.schram@nypost.com