New York – Police Eye Terrorism As Possible Motive In Officer Hatchet Attack

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    In this frame grab taken from video provided by the New York Police Department, an unidentified man approaches New York City police officers with a hatchet, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, in the Queens borough of New York. The man injured two with the hatchet before the other officers shot and killed him, police said. A bystander was wounded in the gunfire. Investigators were still trying to confirm the identity of the assailant and determine a motive. (AP Photo/New York Police Department)New York – Investigators were working on Friday to determine why a man attacked a group of New York Police Department officers with a hatchet before they shot him dead.

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    Police obtained a warrant to search Zale Thompson’s computer for clues about Thursday’s daytime assault, which left one officer with a serious head injury. Thompson’s activity on social media indicated he was a convert to Islam and included rants about injustices in American society and oppression abroad but offered no clear evidence of any affiliation with terror groups, police said.

    Security video and witness accounts appeared to leave no doubt that Thompson purposely targeted four rookie police officers who were on routine foot patrol in a busy commercial district. Moments before the attack, the bearded suspect was seen on a street corner crouching down to pull the hatchet out of backpack before he charged the officers and began swinging the hatchet with a two-handed grip, police said.

    Asked on Thursday if the attack could be related to terrorism, Police Commissioner William Bratton didn’t rule it out. He cited the fatal shooting of a soldier in Canada earlier this week – what officials there have called a terror attack – as reason for concern.

    “This early on, we really cannot say yes or no to that question,” Bratton said Thursday.

    The attack occurred at about 2 p.m. while the officers were standing together posing for a passerby’s photo. Without a word, Thompson swung at an officer who blocked the blow with his arm, police said. Another officer was hit in the back of the head and fell to the ground.

    As the 32-year-old suspect raised the hatchet again, the two uninjured officers drew their weapons and fired several rounds, police said. The bullets killed the assailant and wounded a female bystander, police said. A bloody hatchet, about 18 inches in length, was recovered.

    Both the officer and the bystander remained hospitalized Friday.

    The Facebook page of Zale Thompson


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    10 Comments
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    VeyIzMir
    VeyIzMir
    9 years ago

    When will the world get it that Islamic terrorists do not come from the byproduct of Israeli settlements. Are you listening now Kerry?

    9 years ago

    The reason for the terrorist attack is because they feel oppressed , if only America would have a 2 state solution where they give the arab terrorist Texas, New jersey, half of Chicago and parts of Florida, then we can all live in “peace and harmony”

    Benny
    Benny
    9 years ago

    Seems like our police is very dengerous to a public, they keep shooting innocent bystanders.

    We should make them liable for that!
    Or let them carry sticks, knifes, tazers, swords or any other weapon that they can control well!

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    9 years ago

    Did someone say all of them did? Who?

    hashomer
    hashomer
    9 years ago

    Maybe we shouldn’t classify the 9-11 attacks as terrorism, but as picnics… Political correctness gone mad.