Terror attack on Arab Christian-owned restaurant in Ohio
A man wielding a machete on Thursday stormed a restaurant owned by an Israeli in Columbus, Ohio, CNN reported.While it's likely the jihadist targeted the owner and patrons because he thought they were Jewish, it's also possible he'd done it because he viewed them as pro-Israel. The FBI is investigating this incident as a lone wolf terrorist attack (Hat tip: Pajamas Media):
The man attacked several people before he was killed by police, authorities said.
The suspect was the only one killed. Nobody inside the Nazareth restaurant and deli said they knew him, according to police.
The owner of the restaurant was identified as Hany Baransi, an Arab Christian originally from Haifa.
Sources told NBC News on Friday that investigators are looking into whether the attacker carried out his attack the eatery in the mistaken belief that the owner was Jewish.
Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner told CNN after the attack that the suspect "immediately began swinging a machete at customers and employees inside. There was no rhyme or reason as to who he was going after as soon as he walked in, according to some of the witnesses."
The attacker, identified to NBC News by law enforcement sources as Mohamed Barry, had asked a worker at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli where the owner was from, investigators said.
Four people were in the attack injured and transported to the hospital, according to CNN. One victim who was in critical condition underwent surgery and is now "stable," Weiner said
CBS News has identified the suspect as Mohamed Barry, however neither 10TV nor Columbus Police have confirmed the suspect’s name. CBS News also reports Barry has a Somali background and may have traveled to Dubai in 2012.The scumbag was probably a Salafist too.
Law enforcement tells them the incident appears to be the type of “lone wolf terrorist attacks they’re trying to stop.”
The FBI is assisting in the investigation.
Update: here's more on Breitbart.
Labels: Africa, Christianity, immigration, islam, Israel, Israeli Arabs, jihad, Ohio, terrorism, UAE, United States