Official: FBI Looking at Terrorism in Flint Airport Stabbing

Naeim Darzi
By Naeim Darzi
June 21, 2017US News
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Official: FBI Looking at Terrorism in Flint Airport Stabbing
Police officers gather at a terminal at Bishop International Airport, Wednesday morning, June 21, 2017, in Flint, Mich. (Dominic Adams/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)

FLINT, Mich.—The FBI is looking at terrorism as a possible motive after an officer was stabbed in the neck at the Flint airport, a law enforcement official said after the Wednesday attack that prompted an evacuation and beefed up security elsewhere in the Michigan city.

A second law enforcement official said authorities were investigating witness reports the suspect made during the incident, including saying “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great.” Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t able to publicly discuss the incident.

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said the condition of Bishop International Airport police Lt. Jeff Neville had been upgraded from critical to stable by Wednesday afternoon. Shaw said one person is in custody and nobody else is believed to have been involved.

Shaw said “everything is on the table” as far as motive is concerned but cautioned against jumping to conclusions. The FBI is leading the investigation. The primarily regional airport, which had been evacuated, is “shut down and secure,” Shaw said, and no other threats had been identified.

Witnesses described seeing the suspect led away in handcuffs by police, Neville bleeding and a knife on the ground.

Burton Police Officers gather at Bishop International Airport, Wednesday morning, June 21, 2017, in Flint, Mich. (Shannon Millard/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)
Burton Police Officers gather at Bishop International Airport, Wednesday morning, June 21, 2017, in Flint, Mich. (Shannon Millard/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)

“The cop was on his hands and knees bleeding from his neck,” Ken Brown told The Flint Journal. “I said they need to get him a towel.”

Cherie Carpenter, who was awaiting a flight to Texas to see her new grandchild, told Flint TV station WJRT she saw the attacker being led away in handcuffs. She described the man in custody as appearing “blank, just totally blank.”

Flint officials said they stationed police officers around City Hall after the incident a few miles away. Mayor Karen Weaver said in a release Wednesday “the situation is under control” but officials sought to take “extra precautions.”

Flint is about 50 miles northwest of Detroit.

The Associated Press

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