Family ID's attacker behind 'potential act of terrorism' in St. Cloud

[brooklynite]

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

ST. CLOUD — The attack in St. Cloud’s main shopping center that left nine people with stab wounds is being treated as an act of terror, federal authorities said Sunday.

In a media briefing after midnight Sunday, Police Chief William Blair Anderson said an off-duty officer from another jurisdiction confronted and fatally shot the suspect Saturday night inside Crossroads Center. He said the man — dressed in a private security uniform — reportedly asked at least one victim whether they were Muslim before assaulting them, and referred to Allah during the attacks.

“We are currently investigating this as a potential act of terrorism,” said the FBI’s Richard Thornton, speaking at a news conference at Police Department headquarters early Sunday afternoon. Thornton did not link the attack to a specific terror group.

Roughly 12 hours after the stabbings, a news agency said to speak for ISIL went to Twitter to claim credit for the mall violence. “The executor of the stabbing attacks in Minnesota yesterday was a soldier of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to the citizens of countries belonging to the crusader coalition,” the posting by the AMAQ news agency read.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/st-cloud-mall-closed-until-monday-is-crime-scene-after-stabbings/393872071/#1

[Democat]

1. In this case, the "good guy with the gun" saved lives

And the good guy would have had his gun even if background checks were in place, because he was an off duty police officer.

[GeorgeGist]

2. and the bad guy had a knife.

[uncle ray]

6. so a good guy with a stick could have disarmed him.

the guy runs a shooting range. sounds like a case of "if your only tool is a hammer..."

This guys range is only about a mile from the mall. i wonder if he might have rushed to the scene when he picked up scanner traffic?

[GulfCoast66]

9. Really?

I'l let you bring a stick to a knife fight. The guy had stabbed and attempted to kill 8 people. And you expect someone to risk their life fighting him with a stick? Once a man with a knife gets inside the range of the stick the stickbearer is stabbed.

Shooting him was the safest, most appropriate and totally legal response. No telling how many lives were saved.

[Beaverhausen]

11. If he had a gun, no telling how many would be dead.

[GulfCoast66]

12. No doubt

And had he I guarantee a person with a stick would have done no good.

It will be interesting to see why he did not have a gun. Perhaps the law kept him from buying one for some reason.

[matt819]

3. You know, sometimes a crime is just a crime. (nt)

[philosslayer]

4. Sounds like mental illness to me

n/t

[Old Vet]

5. Mental illness no, How many people have died while some asshole is screaming allah shit.....

Another home grown internet inspired incident IMHO...........

[patsimp]

8. too many have

[Red Mountain]

7. Trying to justify a suicide

What....he couldn't afford a gun?

[dflprincess]

10. I have to wonder if this would have gotten any attention (outside of Minnesota)

if it hadn't happened the same night as the bombs going off in NYC.