The Arabic at the top of his Facebook page is from the Qur’an: it is the first few verses of the Fatihah, the Qur’an’s first chapter and the most common prayer in Islam. “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the compassionate, the merciful, master of the day of judgment.”
“Police Commissioner William Bratton said it was unclear what provoked the attack.” Of course. The evidence points in a direction he doesn’t want to go in, so he has to find something else.
“Hatchet-wielding man attacks NYPD officers,” by Benjamin Landy, MSNBC, October 23, 2014 (thanks to Marc):
A New York City police officer is in critical condition and another is stable after a man with a hatchet attacked four officers on the street in Queens, New York on Thursday, officials said. The other officers then opened fire on the man, killing him and accidentally striking a nearby woman, who was later treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police Commissioner William Bratton said it was unclear what provoked the attack, NBC New York reports, but law enforcement agencies nationwide have been on high alert following fatal terrorism-linked attacks on uniformed soldiers in Canada on Wednesday and another on Monday.
The incident began around 2 p.m. when the officers were asked by a freelance photographer to pose for a photo. A hatchet-wielding man then charged at the group from behind – “unprovoked and not speaking a word,” according to Bratton – striking one officer in the arm and another officer in the head. The other two officers then opened fire, killing the attacker.
The man is captured on video pulling the 18.5-inch hatchet from a black backpack, police say.
While Bratton said authorities were working to identify the assailant, police sources told NBC News that the attacker had been tentatively identified as Zale Thompson, a 32-year-old man with a Facebook page containing images of what appears to be a Muslim warrior and prayers. However, authorities have found no links to extremist literature or jihadi groups at this time.
NBC has not independently verified the alleged suspect’s Facebook page or personal information, which lists him as having attended Teachers College at Columbia University.
“This matter has not officially been deemed an act of terrorism as the initial investigation is still ongoing and details are being developed,” the FBI said in a statement Thursday evening, NBC New York reports. But the agency said the incident highlighted the need for “increased vigilance” by law enforcement and the government.