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The FBI has said it is investigating the stabbing of a police officer in the neck at a Michigan airport as an act of terrorism.
- 49-year-old Canadian man Amor Ftouhi of Quebec has been charged
- The stabbed officer is in surgery and expected to fully recover
- Officials say Ftouhi asked why he had not been killed after he was subdued
"We are investigating this incident today that happened at about 9:45 this morning as an act of terrorism," David Gelios, special agent in charge of the Detroit division of the FBI, said outside Bishop International Airport.
The US Department of Justice identified the suspect as 49-year-old Amor M Ftouhi of Quebec, Canada.
Ftouhi legally entered the United States from Lake Champlain, New York, on June 16 before making his way to Flint, Mr Gelios said.
According to a criminal complaint, Ftouhi yelled in Arabic "Allahu Akbar" [God is great] before stabbing Lieutenant Jeff Neville of the airport's Department of Public Safety.
Mr Neville was reportedly in satisfactory condition after undergoing surgery and expected to fully recover.
"When the subject went up to the officer and stabbed him, he continued to exclaim 'Allah' and made a statement, something to the effect of 'You have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and we are all going to die," Mr Gelios said.
Ftouhi has been charged with violence at an international airport, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Mr Gelios said other charges could be lodged against Ftouhi.
US officials, who have questioned Ftouhi, currently believe he acted alone and was not part of a larger plot.
"Suffice it to say, he has a hatred for the United States," Mr Gelios said of Ftouhi.
Mr Gelios described the weapon as a 30-centimetre knife with an 20cm serrated blade.
It took four people to subdue Ftouhi, including the officer he stabbed and a nearby maintenance worker, said Chris Miller, the airport's director of public safety. Mr Miller and another officer also assisted.
According to the criminal complaint, after he was subdued Ftouhi asked why he had not been killed.
The airport was evacuated and there were no other injuries — it reopened late on Wednesday evening (local time).
The attack came on the heels of a series of terrorist attacks in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.
Reuters
Topics: terrorism, united-states
First posted