The attacker, 20-year-old Wasil Farooqui of Roanoke County, has allegedly attacked a couple on Saturday evening.
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Authorities said Farooqui attacked a man and woman with a knife just before 8 p.m. on Saturday night, leaving both severely wounded.
The FBI has launched a federal terrorism investigation into a weekend stabbing in Roanoke, Virginia, looking at whether the attacker may have been trying to behead his victim in an alleged ISIS-inspired assault, sources told ABC News.
Witnesses told police that Farooqui yelled “Allah Akbar”, during the attack, which means “God is Great” in Arabic. He told investigators he parked at the Pines Apartments and heard voices telling him to attack someone.
After witnesses reported that the attacker shouted “Allah akbar”, Roanoke County police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “The fact that he screamed out “Allahu Akbar” and the fact that he chose apparently random victims, the fact that he was known by authorities in advance certainly raises that question”, said Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
CBS New reports they were attacked when they entered an apartment complex. The male was able to fight off the suspect who quickly ran off.
He was arrested later when he sought treatment at the same hospital where the victims were taken, the Washington Post reported.
According to CBS News, ABC, and others, the FBI is investigating whether a random double stabbing in Roanoke County on Saturday was inspired by ISIS. Adam Lee, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Richmond Division, confirmed the investigation to BuzzFeed. Farooqui reportedly traveled to Turkey this past year and may have attempted to cross into Syria, where ISIS is recruiting jihadists from across the world.
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Farooqui appeared in court on Monday, where he was ordered held without bond.
