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Somalis fear Minnesota stabbings fallout
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AUTHORITIES are investigating the stabbings of nine people at a Minnesota mall as a potential act of terrorism, a finding that would realize long-held fears of an attack in the immigrant-rich state that has struggled to stop the recruiting of its young men by groups including the Islamic State.
A young Somali man dressed as a private security guard entered the Crossroads Center mall in St. Cloud over the weekend wielding what appeared to be a kitchen knife. The city’s police chief said the man reportedly made at least one reference to Allah and asked a victim if he or she was Muslim before attacking.
The rampage ended when the man was shot dead by an off-duty police officer.
None of the injured suffered life-threatening wounds.
The motive of Saturday’s attack is still unclear, but FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Rick Thornton said on Sunday it was being investigated as a “potential act of terrorism” and that the Islamic State claimed responsibility. Authorities were digging into the attacker’s background and possible motives, looking at social media accounts and electronic devices and talking to his associates.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton planned to meet with St Cloud’s mayor and other local officials to discuss the case.
It doesn’t appear anyone else was involved in the attack, which began around 8pm and was over within minutes, Police Chief Blair Anderson said.
Leaders of the Somali community in central Minnesota united to condemn the stabbings. They said the suspect — identified by his father as 22-year-old Dahir A. Adan — does not represent them, and they expressed fear of backlash. Minnesota has the largest Somali community, with census numbers placing the population at about 40,000.
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