‘Hatred of US’ led to knifing by Canadian

UNITED STATES: The FBI says the stabbing of a police officer at an airport in Flint, Michgan is being investigated as an ‘‘act of terror’’, carried out by a man who yelled ‘‘Allahu Akbar’’ before attacking the officer in the neck with a knife.

‘‘Suffice to say, he has a hatred for the United States,’’ Detroit’s FBI chief David Gelios said of the suspect, who was subdued by law enforcement and taken into custody.

The suspect is 50-year-old Amor Ftouhi of Canada, who was charged yesterday with committing a violent act in an airport, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.

‘‘We’re seeking search warrants for electronic media, for his vehicle,’’ Gelios added. But at this time, he said, ‘‘we view him as a lone-wolf attacker’’.

The victim, Lieutenant. Jeff Neville, who fought the attacker until law enforcement could subdue him, survived the stabbing.

‘‘We had some incredible acts of heroism up there today,’’ Gelios said.

The Flint Islamic Centre condemned the attack as a ‘‘horrible act of violence’’ and is planning a prayer vigil for the victim.

According to the FBI, Ftouhi legally entered the US on June 16 and eventually made his way to Flint.

‘‘We have no information to suggest a wider plot,’’ Gelios said. He added that the suspect was cooperative and talked to the FBI about his motivations, which involved ‘‘hatred for the United States’’.

The stabbing happened at 9.38am (local time) in a publicly accessible area of Bishop International Airport, where the suspect ‘‘walked up to a fully uniformed police officer ... yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’, pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer in the neck,’’ FBI agent Thomas Sondgeroth wrote in a criminal complaint.

‘‘After stabbing the police officer, Ftouhi continued to yell ‘Allah’ several times,’’ the complaint stated.

‘‘He further exclaimed something similar to, ‘ You have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and we are all going to die’.’’

Following the attack, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a statement saying President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice were committed to prioritising the safety of all law enforcement officers.

‘‘I want to assure all our law enforcement across the nation, any attack on someone who serves and protects our citizens will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

‘‘I am proud of the swift response from the FBI and our federal prosecutors and their partnership with local police and the Canadian authorities.’’

On Twitter, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder thanked law enforcement and first responders who assisted at the scene.

‘‘Even with this attack, we must continue to balance our need for increased security with understanding and tolerance,’’ Snyder tweeted.

Craig Williams, Flint’s airport director, said security was a top priority at the airport, but that he was not yet in a position to comment on what security levels exist at the airport.

He said five flights were affected by the attack. – TNS