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Michigan police officer stabbed in the neck at Flint city airport Stabbing of Michigan police officer at airport called an 'act of terrorism'
(about 5 hours later)
A police officer in Flint, Michigan, was stabbed in the neck at the city’s airport on Wednesday morning, prompting increased security in the city and an evacuation of the building. A police officer in Flint, Michigan, was stabbed in the neck at the city’s airport on Wednesday morning, in an attack US officials are describing as an “act of terrorism”.
The officer, named as Jeff Neville by Michigan state police, was rushed to hospital and is now in a stable condition, according to local reports. FBI has charged Amor Ftouhi, a 49-year-old Canadian from Quebec, with causing violence at an international airport, special agent David Gelios told reporters on Wednesday evening.
A suspect was taken into custody shortly after the attack at the Bishop International Airport, a spokesman for the FBI in Washington DC said. The federal agency is now leading the investigation into the incident. “No motive has yet been assigned,” said FBI spokesman Andrew Ames. The officer, Jeff Neville, was rushed to hospital and is now in stable condition.
A spokesman for the FBI field office in Detroit said in a later statement the agency was aware of reports that suspect had “made statements prior to or while attacking the officer” but added that it was “too early to determine the nature of these alleged statements or whether or not this was an act of terrorism”. The FBI said Ftouhi entered the US legally through a New York border crossing on 16 June. Days later he made his way to the Bishop International Airport. “He spent a little time in the restroom. Dropped both bags and came out, pulled out a knife, yelled ‘Allahu akbar’, and stabbed Lt Neville in the neck,” Gelios said. “He made a statement something to the effect of, ‘You have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and we are all going to die.’”
The agency believes the attack was an isolated incident. The suspect, who had attacked the officer with a 12-inch serrated knife, was taken into custody shortly afterwards. There was little to suggest that the attack was part of a wider plot, said Gelios. “At this time, we view him as a lone wolf attacker.”
“We currently have no specific, credible information that there is a threat to the Flint community,” the statement said. US attorney general Jeff Sessions said he had spoken to the FBI about the attack, which is being investigated as an act of terrorism. He was “proud of the swift response” by authorities of both nations, he said in a statement. “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.”
Cherie Carpenter, a witness to the stabbing, told local news the male assailant appeared “blank” after he was arrested by local police. Canada’s public safety minister Ralph Goodale issued a statement calling the incident a “heinous and cowardly act”. Canadian law enforcement agencies are in touch with their US counterparts and assisting them in every way possible, Goodale said.
Cherie Carpenter, a witness to the stabbing, told local news the male assailant appeared “blank, just totally blank” after he was arrested by local police.
Ftouhi reportedly lives in Montreal where he works for a large insurance company. On Wednesday afternoon, local media reported a large police presence outside an apartment believed to connected to Ftouhi.
City officials in Flint said that local police officers had been stationed around city hall following the incident.City officials in Flint said that local police officers had been stationed around city hall following the incident.
“Right now we are still awaiting more information about the situation at Bishop Airport this morning,” said Flint mayor Karen Weaver. “My thoughts and prayers are with all of our law enforcement officers who work to service and protect us each and every day. I want the public to know that several agencies are involved and working to ensure the situation is under control. However, at this time we are taking extra precautions just to be safe.”“Right now we are still awaiting more information about the situation at Bishop Airport this morning,” said Flint mayor Karen Weaver. “My thoughts and prayers are with all of our law enforcement officers who work to service and protect us each and every day. I want the public to know that several agencies are involved and working to ensure the situation is under control. However, at this time we are taking extra precautions just to be safe.”