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Axe-wielding US Navy veteran who attacked police officers was trying to end his own life and take revenge for 'all that racism' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A US Navy veteran, who was shot dead in New York after attacking four police officers, was trying to end his own life while killing a white person in revenge for “all that racism”, his father has reportedly said. | A US Navy veteran, who was shot dead in New York after attacking four police officers, was trying to end his own life while killing a white person in revenge for “all that racism”, his father has reportedly said. |
Zale Thompson, 32, a Muslim convert, was killed after hitting one officer on the back of the head and another on the arm with an axe in the city’s Queens district on Thursday. | Zale Thompson, 32, a Muslim convert, was killed after hitting one officer on the back of the head and another on the arm with an axe in the city’s Queens district on Thursday. |
His father, Ralph Thompson, speaking to the New York Post, said that his son had told him: “They [white people] have to pay for all their unfairness. Unfairness for the way they treat black people.” | His father, Ralph Thompson, speaking to the New York Post, said that his son had told him: “They [white people] have to pay for all their unfairness. Unfairness for the way they treat black people.” |
However he added that he “didn’t know it would get that serious”. | However he added that he “didn’t know it would get that serious”. |
“He [Zale Thompson] wanted white people to pay for all that slavery and all that racism,” Mr Thompson told a reporter. | “He [Zale Thompson] wanted white people to pay for all that slavery and all that racism,” Mr Thompson told a reporter. |
“I think he committed suicide — and he was taking one of y’all [meaning white people] with him.” | “I think he committed suicide — and he was taking one of y’all [meaning white people] with him.” |
New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton has described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. | New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton has described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. |
Police said Zale Thompson, described as an unemployed recluse, visited websites associated with several radical Islamic groups and also put “anti-government, anti-Western, anti-white” messages on social media. | Police said Zale Thompson, described as an unemployed recluse, visited websites associated with several radical Islamic groups and also put “anti-government, anti-Western, anti-white” messages on social media. |
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