The FBI said it is investigating the attack – which targeted seven men and two women ranging in age from 15 to 53 – as a possible act of terrorism. That was before the Islamic State began urging “lone wolf” attacks in countries that are part of a US -led coalition against their group.
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Ashley Bayne, an employee of JCPenney at the mall, was visiting a coworker at the time of the incident.
Investigators do not yet know if the Minnesota mall assailant had actually made contact with any extremist militants before going through with the attack.
“Somali mall workers are afraid to go to their jobs today”, Abdullahi said in an email.
Federal officials released no new information on Monday on the investigation into the stabbing.
Dahir A. Adan, 22, is said to be a Somalian “soldier of the Islamic State” who emigrated from Africa to the USA with his family 15 years ago. “Right now, that’s at the top of our list”.
Police officers did not definitively name Adan as the suspect, but his father, Ahmed Adan, and some in the city’s Somali American community identified him as the attacker. Fears of radicalized youths haveincreased recently within the community.
Leaders of the local Somali community gave a press conference Sunday to “strongly condemn any terrorist attack” and give their condolences to the victims and their families.
“Without training, some people freeze”, he said, adding that an emphasis on the constitutional rights of gun owners has overshadowed the necessity of training.
Members of the St. Cloud clergy met Monday afternoon in an attempt to aid the city’s recovery.
The Islamic State has claimed Adan as a “soldier”, but St. Cloud authorities said during a news conference on Monday, Sept. 19, that investigators have not found anything to link him to the militant group.
Mr Anderson said Adan asked at least one of his victims if they were a Muslim before attacking. “One person does something, and the whole community pays for that one person’s actions”, she said.
During the frenzy, Adan lunged at Jason Falconer, a part-time police officer in the small town of Avon, 15 miles west of St. Cloud, Mayor Dave Kleis said.
Mall officials declined to comment Monday, referring questions to police.
Jama Alimad, a Somali community advocate and friend of the family, told the Star Tribune that Adan was more into sports than religion, describing him as “the most assimilated kid in the neighborhood”.
Aden’s fatal encounter with Falconer at Macy’s was caught on surveillance video.
Dahir Adan was killed by an off-duty police officer minutes into the attack Saturday night at the mall in St. Cloud.
“We are now investigating this as a potential act of terrorism”.
Sydney Weires was at the mall during the incident.
“Let’s show them that we are not what happened yesterday”, said Lul Hersi of St. Cloud. “He was yelling, ‘Call the cops!” Makarral says she saw people walking around inside with blood on them.
“He was screaming at us, ‘Get the F out!’ ” she said about one of the men, according to the paper. One of the victims shared his story with The Associated Press. Many of them have been waiting in the food court.
A suspected jihadi, who slashed shoppers during an Islamic State-inspired knife assault at a USA mall, was unmasked by his father.
ISIS-related media claimed responsibility for the attack the next day, issuing a statement via a source.
Adde called for the Somali community to work to steer youth away from groups like the Islamic State.
Kuznar said these types of “lone wolf” attacks have happened before with the shootings at an Orlando night club and a San Bernardino center for people with developmental disabilities. “They are far harder for security services to detect and prevent”.
The attack occurred on the same evening of the 2016 Manhattan explosion. At least 29 people suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
In neighboring New Jersey, an explosion went off in a garbage can on the route of a Marine Corps charity run. Abdulwahid Osman says the family is devastated by the incomprehensible tragic event of last Saturday.
Authorities have since apprehended Ahmad Khan Rahami, who was wanted in connection with the explosions in Seaside Park and Manhattan.
President Obama said that the Minnesota attack was not believed to be connected to suspected bomber Ahmad Rahami’s planting explosives in NY and New Jersey.
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Nine people were injured in Saturday’s stabbing attack; all have been treated and released.
