A man donned a private security uniform and stabbed nine people at a Minnesota shopping mall, with him apparently asking one of the victims if they were Muslim before an off-duty police officer shot and killed him.
Thankfully, none of the nine victims were fatally wounded, with the St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson noting that the stabber worked alone and no one else seems to be associated with the incident. The incident was short-lived, lasting for only a few minutes.
ISIS Claims Responsibility For Minnesota Mall Attack
A news agency associated with ISIS has remarked that the perpetrator was a soldier of the Islamic State.
This comes on the heels of speculation at a news conference this Sunday, when FBI agent Rick Fortin declared that the attack was being investigated as a possible act of terrorism. Agents are currently digging into the attacker’s background to find any motives for this seemingly random attack on nine civilians.
But Can Claims From ISIS Affiliates Be Trusted?
An abysmal terrorist group, ISIS has relied on manipulation to instill fear against Muslims, and those associated with modern democracy. The group has encouraged lone wolf attacks, with the hate group constantly claiming attacks that may not even be associated with ISIS, or other Islamic terrorist groups.
It uses these tactics of manipulation to pit others against Muslims – and unfortunately, it has worked.
In different parts of the country, there has been an increase of racist and xenophobic attacks against people who are Muslim. It is not immediately clear if ISIS had actually planned the attack or even knew about in the first place.
Who Is the Minnesota Mall Attacker?
Authorities haven’t officially identified the attacker, but the Star Tribune of Minneapolis has noted that the perpetrator’s father has come forth to identify him as Dahir A. Adan, a 22-year-old man from Somali who has lived in the United States for the past 15 years.
Currently, leaders in the Somali community in and around central Minnesota have publicly condemned Adan and his actions. They mentioned that he does not represent the Somalian community.
The nine victims include seven men, a woman, and a 15-year-old girl. Currently, three of them remain hospitalized.
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
