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Philadelphia officer ambushed by gunman Philadelphia police officer ambushed 'in the name of Islam'
(about 1 hour later)
A gunman in Philadelphia ambushed a police officer as he sat in his cruiser at a junction late on Thursday. An officer in Philadelphia was ambushed by a man who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS), police officials have said.
Three of the 13 or more shots that the as yet unnamed gunman fired struck the officer, who is said to be recovering. The gunman, 30, fired at least 11 shots at the officer, in an act done "in the name of Islam".
The officer returned fire, striking the gunman at least three times, in what the police chief described as an attempted "execution".The officer returned fire, striking the gunman at least three times, in what the police chief described as an attempted "execution".
The suspect, whose condition is not known, escaped on foot but was apprehended by police shortly after. The suspect escaped on foot but was apprehended by police shortly after.
"This is absolutely one of the scariest things I've ever seen," Police Commissioner Richard Ross said. "This guy tried to execute the police officer. The police officer had no idea he was coming.""This is absolutely one of the scariest things I've ever seen," Police Commissioner Richard Ross said. "This guy tried to execute the police officer. The police officer had no idea he was coming."
Mr Ross said there was no apparent motive for the attack. Despite being shot, Officer Jesse Harnett left his vehicle and was able to to return fire, striking the gunman at least once. Other officers were able to later apprehend the man.
After the shoot-out, Officer Jessie Harnett screamed into his radio: "I'm bleeding heavily." "He has confessed to committing this cowardly act in the name of Islam," the police commissioner said, because he believes "police defend laws that are contrary to Islam".
There are unconfirmed reports from local television station WPVI that the suspect was "dressed in what sources say is Muslim garb and wearing a mask". A separate local station, CBS Philadelphia, reported that unnamed sources told the outlet that "the suspect has given a full confession, saying he did it in the name of Islam". There is no evidence that the gunman was working with anyone else, he said.
The BBC has not independently verified those claims. Mr Harnett has "very serious injuries that will require multiple surgeries".
After the shoot-out, Officer Harnett screamed into his radio: "I'm bleeding heavily."
"His will to live undoubtedly saved his life," Mr Ross said. "This could have easily been a police funeral."
Mr Ross said the assailant's gun was a police firearm that was stolen in 2013.
"We know it was stolen; how many hands it may have passed through in the last couple of years, we do not know," Mr Ross said.