ISIS-inspired attack.
A Somali immigrant student has been identified as the suspect behind the knife attack on the Ohio State University campus, on Monday.
USA Today reported that the suspect has been identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan, an Ohio University student.
Artan, who wounded 11 people using a knife after driving a car into a group of people, was killed by the police. Police have launched an investigation and FBI also reportedly joined the local police in the probe.
Though the agencies haven’t got any clue about Artan’s motive behind the attack, they have found that the attacker had posted a photo on Facebook before the attack to show his anger about the way Muslims were being treated all over the world.
It was the picture of a document on a computer screen with the warning: “Screenshot this before it gets deleted.” He showed his anger at the United States for interfering with other countries, especially the Muslim people, criticized the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma, and praised radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, calling him a “hero.”
Though there were no specific threats in the post, Artan said that the US could prevent “lone wolf” attacks by making an agreement with militant outfit Islamic State. He went on to say that he had reached a boiling point and would “kill a billion infidels” to save a single Muslim.
“By Allah, we will not let you sleep unless you give peace to the Muslims. You will not celebrate or enjoy any holiday,” read the post.
Ohio State Police Chief Craig Stone said that Artan was alone in the vehicle when he attacked people.
“We can prove to you that the suspect was by himself in the vehicle and committed this act by himself today. It’s an ongoing investigation to determine motive and if anybody else was involved in this act,” he was quoted as saying by USA News.
However, the police haven’t ruled out any possible connection between the attacker and any terrorist organization.
Officials told NBC News there are no known contacts between Artan and ISIS or any other foreign terrorist organization other than an unsubstantiated claim from the ISIS media arm. But, the attack comes at a time when ISIS urged sympathizers in the US to carry out attacks in America if they couldn’t reach Syria and Iraq to join the terror group.
According to the law enforcement officials, Artan was born and brought up in Somalia. His family moved to Pakistan in 2007. After spending seven years in Pakistan, the family came to the U.S. as refugees and he is living as a legal permanent resident.
After staying in a temporary shelter in Dallas for 24 days, they relocated to Columbus, Ohio, reported NBC News. Artan enrolled at Columbus State Community College in 2014 and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in the spring of 2016.
Classes at Ohio State University resumed on Tuesday, a day after Artan attacked and wounded 11 people.