A police officer, Lt. Jeff Neville, was stabbed in the back of the neck at Flint's Bishops International Airport, Michigan. The accused, Amor Ftouhi, 49 and carrying a Quebec Candian passport, was allegedly shouting "Allahu Akbar." The attack happened at 9:45 am approximately at the main terminal of the airport. The officer was unaware that Ftouhi was behind him when he was stabbed with a 12- inch knife. The attacker was taken into custody shortly afterward.
Law Enforcement
As asserted in a statement released by the FBI, "all law enforcement agencies responded to Flint's Bishop International Airport after receiving the report of a stabbing of an airport police officer who is presently considered to be in stable condition.
We are aware of reports the attacker made statements immediately prior to or while attacking the officer."
David Gelios, who is heading the investigating for the FBI, reported that Amor Ftouhi legally came into the United States on June 16, through a New York border crossing. Davide Lemish, U.S Attorney for Michigan, stated that Ftouhi has been charged with "committing an act of violence at an airport," and could face 20 years in federal prison.
Governor Rick Snyder stated, "as we wait to learn more about the incident at Bishop International Airport, please keep the attacked officer in your thoughts and prayers."
As we wait to learn more about the incident at Bishop Airport, please keep the attacked officer in your thoughts & prayers.
— Governor Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) June 21, 2017
Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert had briefed President Trump of the attack at Bishop International Airport.
Law enforcement agencies in both the United States and Canada are working together to find more information on the suspect. Canadian authorities have begun conducting raids and interrogatories in order to gather as much evidence as possible.
Suspect
Amor Ftouhi, 49, was originally from Tunisia and moved to Montreal Canda. He was employed by Industrielle Alliance, an insurance company.
He had also taken some courses at O'Suliivan College, Montreal, Quebec. Tunisia has become a hotbed for ISIS recruiting in recent times but it is unknown at this time if he had and connections to it.
The attacker is married and the father of three children. Luciano Piazza, Ftouhi's building landlord, was surprised by the news.
The family rented from him for years and he never had any problems with them. He only saw him once a month when he paid the rent and he was not a difficult tenant.
According to the FBI, the suspect said something similar to "you have killed people in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and we all are going to die," as also reported in The Guardian.
Terror Attacks
Over the last several years terror attacks have been occurring at an alarming rate. The United States and countries around the world have increased airport security in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Passengers go through long lines, extensive screenings and body searches, but attacks inside airports are still occurring.
Here is a list of some of the airport attacks: on January 6, 2017, at Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport in Florida, a gunman opened fire near the luggage area killing several people; November 2016, a shooting took place at Oklamho City Airport, in which a police officer was shot; New Orleans International Airport also had an incident in 2015, a man wielding a machete and carrying bombs was shot by law enforcement and killed. Other incidents occurred in November 2013, July 2002 and May 2002.
