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| Philadelphia police officer ambushed 'in the name of Islam' | Philadelphia police officer ambushed 'in the name of Islam' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police officer in Philadelphia was ambushed by a man who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS), officials have said. | A police officer in Philadelphia was ambushed by a man who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS), officials have said. |
| Edward Archer fired at least 11 shots at the officer, in an act done "in the name of Islam", police said. | Edward Archer fired at least 11 shots at the officer, in an act done "in the name of Islam", police said. |
| Despite being shot, Officer Jessie Harnett left his vehicle and was able to to return fire, striking Mr Archer at least once. | Despite being shot, Officer Jessie Harnett left his vehicle and was able to to return fire, striking Mr Archer at least once. |
| Mr Archer escaped on foot but was apprehended by police shortly after. | Mr Archer 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 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 guy tried to execute the police officer. The police officer had no idea he was coming." |
| "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". | "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 is no evidence that Mr Archer, 30, of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was working with anyone else, he said. | There is no evidence that Mr Archer, 30, of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was working with anyone else, he said. |
| Philadelphia court records show he was convicted of assault in March and was set to begin a prison term. He had also been convicted of forging documents in a nearby suburb. | |
| Mr Archer's mother Valerie Holliday said he is mentally ill and had suffered multiple head injuries, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. | |
| "He's been acting kind of strange lately. He's been talking to himself . . . laughing and mumbling," she told the newspaper. "He's been hearing voices in his head. We asked him to get medical help." | |
| Ms Holliday also told the Inquirer that he had been a devout Muslim "for a long time". | |
| Mr Harnett had been a police officer for at least five years and had also served in the US Coast Guard. | |
| Mr Ross said the he has "very serious injuries that will require multiple surgeries". | |
| After the shoot-out, Mr Harnett screamed into his radio: "I'm bleeding heavily." | After the shoot-out, Mr 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." | "His will to live undoubtedly saved his life," Mr Ross said. "This could have easily been a police funeral." |
| Mr Ross said Mr Archer's gun was a police firearm that was stolen in 2013. | Mr Ross said Mr Archer'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. | "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. |
| The shooting comes one month after attacks in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 people dead, and were committed by a couple who officials say were inspired by radical Islam. | The shooting comes one month after attacks in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 people dead, and were committed by a couple who officials say were inspired by radical Islam. |
| They also come a day after police in Paris, France, shot dead a man who was apparently trying to attack a police station on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. | They also come a day after police in Paris, France, shot dead a man who was apparently trying to attack a police station on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. |